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Debating the Presidency
Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive
Fifth Edition
Edited by:
- Richard J. Ellis - Willamette University, USA
- Michael Nelson - Rhodes College, USA
Other Titles in:
Presidency
Presidency
December 2019 | 312 pages | CQ Press
The study of the presidency—the power of the office, the evolution of the executive as an institution, the men who have served—has generated a great body of research and scholarship. What better way to get students to grapple with the ideas of the literature than through conflicting perspectives on some of the most pivotal issues facing the modern presidency? Richard Ellis and Michael Nelson have once again assembled a cadre of top scholars to offer a series of pro/con essays that will inspire spirited debate beyond the pages of the book. Each essay—written in the form of a debate resolution— offers a compelling yet concise view on the American executive.
Preface
Contributors
1. Resolved, the framers of the Constitution would approve of the modern Presidency
David Nichols
Terri Bimes
2. Resolved, the unitary executive is a myth
Richard J. Ellis
Saikrishna Prakash
3. Resolved, political parties should nominate candidates for the presidency through a national primary
Michael Nelson
Andrew E. Busch
4. Resolved, the president should be elected directly by the people
Burdett Loomis
Byron E. Shafer and Monica Busch
5. Resolved, the 22nd Amendment should be repealed
David Karol
Thomas E. Cronin
6. Resolved, the new media has brought the president closer to the people
Matthew R. Kerbel
Bruce Miroff
7. Resolved, presidential success and failure are better explained by political time and the strength of governing coalitions than a president's character and leadership qualities
Stephen Skowronek
Paul Quirk
8. Resolved, presidential power is (still) the power to persuade
Matt Dickinson
George C. Edwards III
9. Resolved Congress should be required to vote up or down on legislation proposed by the president
William G. Howell and Terry Moe
B. Dan Wood
10. Resolved, presidents have usurped the war power that rightfully belongs to Congress
Nancy Kassop
Robert Bauer
11. Resolved, Congress should have the power to override a presidential pardon by a two-thirds majority vote of both houses
Sharece Thrower
Jeffrey Crouch
12. Resolved, executive orders and other unilateral presidential directives undermine democracy
Gene Healy
Andrew Rudalevige
13. Resolved, the president has too much power in the selection of judges
David A. Yalof
John Anthony Maltese
14. Resolved, the vice presidency should be abolished
Douglas L. Kriner
Joel K. Goldstein
David Nichols, Terri Bimes
Chapter 1: Resolved, the framers of the Constitution would approve of the modern presidency.
Richard Ellis, Sai Prakash
Chapter 2: Resolved, the unitary executive is a myth
Michael Nelson, Andrew Busch
Chapter 3: Resolved, political parties should nominate candidates for the presidency through a national primary.
Burdett Loomis, Byron Shafer, Monica Busch
Chapter 4: Resolved, the president should be elected directly by the people.
David Karol, Thomas Cronin
Chapter 5: Resolved, the 22nd Amendment should be repealed.
Matthew Kerbel, Bruce Miroff
Chapter 6: Resolved, the new media has brought the president closer to the people.
Stephen Skowronek, Paul Quirk
Chapter 7: Resolved, presidential success and failure are better explained by political time and the strength of governing coalitions than a president’s character and leadership qualities
Matt Dickinson, George Edwards
Chapter 8: Resolved, presidential power is (still) the power to persuade.
Willliam Howell, Terry Moe, B. Wood
Chapter 9: Resolved Congress should have to vote up or down on legislation proposed by the president
Nancy Kassop, Robert Bauer
Chapter 10: Resolved, presidents have usurped the war power that rightfully belongs to Congress.
Sharece Thrower, Jeffrey Crouch
Chapter 11: Resolved, Congress should have the power to override a presidential pardon by a two thirds majority vote of both houses
Gene Healy, Andrew Rudalevige
Chapter 12: Resolved, executive orders and other unilateral presidential directives undermine democracy.
David Yalof, John Maltese
Chapter 13: Resolved, the president has too much power in the selection of judges.
Douglas Kriner, Joel Goldstein
Chapter 14: Resolved, the vice presidency should be abolished.