The Presidency – Course Description
There is no other political institution that can garner popular attention like the American Presidency. It is an interesting time to be studying the presidency, as established norms and behaviors are changing, whether for the good or bad becomes irrelevant. For this course, we set-aside partisan allegiances and put on our social scientist hats to examine the presidency from an empirical position using rigorous academic techniques.
This course takes an empirical and applied approach to studying the American presidency. The objective is to critically evaluate theories of the modern presidency (post-World War II) in the American constitutional system and apply them systematically to the institution and individuals who have occupied the Oval Office. The course begins with an overview of formal and informal presidential power, followed by theories covering presidential elections, the growth of the presidency as an institution, public approval, presidential relations with the media, the legislative presidency and relations with Congress, judicial appointments, and domestic and foreign policy, as well as a discussion on presidential power and greatness. We will also explore competing ideological approaches and understandings of what the presidency should be. In the latter third of the course, we will apply these theories to individual presidents spanning Truman to Trump, using case studies and empirical evidence to evaluate select topics of modern presidents’ leadership with a particular emphasis on domestic policy.
Fall 2018:
MWF – Period 3 (9:35 – 10:25am)
Room: Anderson 34
Office Hours: Tuesday, 10am to Noon
Wednesday, 11am to 1pm
By Appointment as Needed
Office: 232 Pugh Hall (Bob Graham Center)