Debating the Presidency: Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive

by Richard J. Ellis (Editor), Michael Nelson (Editor)

The study of the presidency―the power of the office, the evolution of the executive as an institution, the men who have served―has generated a great body of research and scholarship.What better way to get students to grapple with the ideas of the literature than through conflicting perspectives on some of the most pivotal issues facing the modern presidency? Richard Ellis and Michael Nelson have once again assembled a cadre of top scholars to offer a series of pro/con essays that will inspire spirited debate beyond the pages of the book. Each essay―written in the form of a debate resolution― offers a compelling yet concise view on the American executive. In essays that are new to this edition, contributors debate the repeal of the 22nd Amendment, the abolition of the vice presidency, the extent to which presidential signing statements threaten the separation of powers, and whether the fighting of the war on terror should require relaxing checks on presidential power. Ellis and Nelson introduce each pair of essays, giving students context and preparing them to read each argument critically, so they can decide for themselves which side of the debate they find most persuasive.

Genres: School, Nonfiction, Politics

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2006

About the author

Richard J. Ellis is Mark O. Hatfield Professor of Politics, Policy, Law, and Ethics at Willamette University.

Reviews

[Nora Winckler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 the debates were pretty interesting, but sometimes the essays got of track and then never got back on the track either.

[Jess Dull]

I’m taking this off my currently reading list because I hate seeing it

[norah grace deboer]

i just don’t wanna see this anymore, im sick of presidents

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

for summer course

Nice structure, but the level of writing varies.

[Joseph R. Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat left-leaning, but still nicely written with excellent pro/con discussion in each chapter.