The American Presidency
An Analytical Approach

The American Presidency introduces students to new insights produced by the scientific study of the presidency and the scientific endeavor itself.

Irwin L. Morris (Author)

9780521895927, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 August 2010

288 pages, 15 b/w illus. 4 tables
24.2 x 16.1 x 2.2 cm, 0.6 kg

“This is a terrific and frankly much-needed book. Morris argues that we need to develop and test rigorous theories of the presidency, but he also provides practical guidance and insightful research ideas. This is a must read for all undergraduate and graduate classes.”
– Richard W. Waterman, University of Kentucky

Presidential scholars increasingly turn to science to address the fundamental issues in the field, but undergraduates are rarely taught the skills to do the same. The American Presidency introduces students to new insights produced by the scientific study of the presidency and the scientific endeavor itself. After chapters on the scientific study of the presidency and background information on the presidency, the text discusses prominent theories of presidential power. Chapters on presidential elections, the president's relationship with other political actors (such as Congress and the Supreme Court), the president's role in foreign and economic policy, and presidential greatness include guided research exercises that provide students with the opportunity to apply the scientific method to empirical questions with significant theoretical content. The American Presidency provides students with the opportunity to learn about the presidency and enables them to draw their own reasoned conclusions about the nature of presidential power.

1. Introduction
2. Science and the study of the presidency
3. The presidency: background and foundations
4. Theories of presidential power
5. The presidential selection process
6. Congress and the president
7. The Supreme Court and the president
8. The president and the executive branch
9. The president and foreign policymaking
10. The president and economic policymaking
11. Presidential greatness.

Subject Areas: Elections & referenda [JPHF], Politics & government [JP]