The Administrative Presidency: Presidential Directives and Executive Policymaking

The use of directives is as a valuable tool of the administrative presidency. Less is known however about their use within the United States political system of separate and shared powers where presidents do not act alone. Their directives may be in lieu of legislation or a request to Congress for support while the Supreme Court, through their decisions may help or hinder executive action. Meanwhile, within their own separate institution, presidents must rely on the federal bureaucracy to c...