Progress in the understanding of the electrocatalytic reactions in fuel cells will be reviewed. The emphasis is on the study of model electrocatalysts with in-situ surface spectroscopies. It is shown that Pt single crystals and well-characterized Pt bimetallic bulk alloys have been used with some success as models for real(commercial) catalysts. The electrode reactions discussed include hydrogen oxidation evolution, oxygen reduction, and the electrooxidation of C1 compounds (carbon monoxide, formic acid, and methanol). Surface spectroscopies discussed are infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), scanning tunneling/atomic force microscopy (STM/AFM), and surface x-ray scattering (SXS). The discussion will focus on the relation between the energetics of adsorption of intermediates and the reaction pathway and kinetics, and how the energetics and kinetics are effected by extrinsic properties of the model system, e.g. surface structure and composition. Finally, we conclude by discussing some limitations of these model systems and suggest some directions for studying more realistic systems with the same rigor.