The Presidency in the Twenty-first Century

by Charles W. Dunn (Editor)

Overview

As the most prominent figure of the U.S. government, the president is under constant scrutiny from both his colleagues and the American people. Questions about the proper role of the president have been especially prevalent in the media during the current economic crisis. The Presidency in the Twenty-first Century explores the growth of presidential power, investigating its social, political, and economic impact on America's present and future.

Editor Charles W. Dunn and a team of the nation's leading political scientists examine a variety of topics, from the link between campaigning and governing to trends in presidential communication with the public. The book discusses the role of the presidency in a government designed to require cooperation with Congress and how this relationship is further complicated by the expectations of the public. Several contributors take a closer look at the Obama administration in light of President George W. Bush's emphasis on the unitary executive, a governing style that continues to be highly controversial. Dunn and his contributors provide readers with a thorough analysis of a rapidly changing political role, provoking important questions about the future of America's political system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813134024
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	08/26/2011
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Charles W. Dunn, Distinguished Professor of Government at Regent University and chair emeritus of the U.S. J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, served as special assistant to the minority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives and as chief of staff to a U.S. senator from New York. He is the author of The Seven Laws of Presidential Leadership and The Enduring Reagan and lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Presidency in the Twenty-first Century Charles W. Dunn 1

The Once and Future Chief Executive Hugh Heclo 15

Shall We Cast Our Lot with the Constitution? Stephen Skowronek 29

Is the Constitutional Presidency Obsolete? Robert J. Spitzer 55

The Future of the War Presidency William G. Howell 83

Opportunities and Challenges in Presidential Communications Brandice Canes-Wrone 101

The Future of Bipartisanship as a Strategy of Presidential Governing George C. Edwards III 121

Our Continuing Cult of the Presidency Gene Healy 145

Plausible Futures Jeffrey K. Tulis 169

List of Contributors 187

Index 189

Editorial Reviews

"Charles Dunn has pulled together some of the most outstanding scholars and thinkers currently dealing with the American presidency." — Gary Gregg, author of Vital Remnants: America's Founding and the Western Tradtion

"The discussions in The Presidency in the Twenty-first Century are innovative, creative, and far-seeing. The essays are not only timely, but are in some ways timeless." — Phillip G. Henderson, professor and chair, Department of Politics, Catholic University

From the Publisher