Course Description:
This course will examine the office of the American presidency and the operation of the executive branch of the American federal government
from a historical perspective. We will analyze the office of the presidency throughout the history of the Republic, identifying patterns of change as well as continuities in presidential power. We will consider the presidency’s design in the Constitution and what factors have led to departures from that framework. The class begins with an examination of the historical development of the American presidency and then moves into an examination of modern executive power. Our readings will examine the notion of “the modern presidency” from a variety of angles. The course will provide students with the background to explore such questions as, “How have residents attempted to persuade the American citizenry through rhetoric? Have modern American presidents been successful policy innovators and legislative leaders? What is the relationship of the president with the bureaucracy, legislature and the judiciary? What form of presidential leadership is possible in the 21st century?”
This course fully meets the general education requirement in American History.
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