ABSTRACT
An oft-cited metaphor about dynamics on Capitol Hill is that trying to lead Congress is like herding cats. One reality of the American political system is that much—if not most—of what presidents wish to accomplish in policy terms requires congressional assent. This chapter focuses on the lens of theories that have guided scholars in the bid to assess the nature of presidential leadership of Congress. Political scientists interested in the presidency and Congress have approached the subject from three general angles. The implications of the "Congress-centered" model are straightforward and accentuate relative constraints on the president's legislative success. Presidents who have a majority of their own party members in Congress are more likely to prevail in their positions on legislation (though exceptions abound). The president astutely built "floating coalitions" in Congress to preserve his vetoes, reaching out to conservatives, moderates, and sometimes liberals with particular constituencies in both parties wherever possible.
