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Understanding the Presidency: 2004 Election Season Update, 3/E
James P. Pfiffner, George Mason University
Roger H. Davidson, University of Maryland

ISBN-10: 0321202309
ISBN-13: 9780321202307

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2005
Format: Paper; 480 pp
Published: 04/09/2004

Updated for the 2004 Presidential Election season, this popular reader has new and updated essays on the presidential election process, campaign finance reform, and the continuing transformation of George W. Bush's administration, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The selections in this reader were chosen with two aims in mind: to provide a historical perspective, so often neglected in similar texts that explains how the events of the past two centuries led us to where we are today, and to present the most important current issues that are shaping the Bush administration and the presidency. Some articles are a combination of “classic” scholarly analyses, the best of current scholarship, and engaging insights into the nature of the contemporary presidency.

Introductory essays by Pfiffner and Davidson present an overview of each major section, giving a context for the selections and helping students to uncover the most important points.

Provides an excellent combination of historical and the most contemporary selections, as well as a mix of scholarly and journalistic pieces.

New reading by presidential elections expert James E. Campbell on “Nomination Politics, Party Unity, and Presidential Elections” that examines these issues historically and in the context of the 2004 presidential race.

Newly revised and updated reading on “Campaigning for Cash Amid Chaos? George W. Bush, Campaign Finance Reform, and Presidential Fundraising in 2004” by two of the top scholars of campaign finance, Clyde Wilcox and Keiko Ono of Georgetown University, including updated federal rules and regulations.

Updated reading on “The Transformation of the Bush Presidency,” by James Pfiffner, which now includes detailed analysis of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

1. Constitutional Origins of the Presidency.

The Creation of the Presidency, Charles C. Thatch, Jr.

James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, James Madison.

Federalist No. 69, Alexander Hamilton.

Federalist No. 70, Alexander Hamilton.

To the Citizens of the State of New York, George Clinton.

2. Historical Perspectives on the Presidency.

The Strict Constructionist Presidency, William Howard Taft.

The Stewardship Presidency, Theodore Roosevelt.

The Public Presidency, Woodrow Wilson.

The Prerogative Presidency, Abraham Lincoln.

Toward a Modern Presidency, Fred I. Greenstein.

Presidency in the Political Order, Stephen Skowronek.

3. Selecting Presidents: Campaigns, Elections, and Mandates.

Re-evaluating the Electoral College, James P. Pfiffner.

Nomination Politics, Party Unity, and Presidential Elections, James E. Campbell.

Campaigning for Cash Amid Chaos? George W. Bush, Campaign Finance Reform, and Presidential Fundraising in 2004, Keiko Ono and Clyde Wilcox.

Party Favors, Robert B. Reich.

The Presidential Election of 2000, Gerald M. Pomper.

The Myth of Presidential Mandate, Robert A. Dahl.

The "Permanent Campaign," Hugh Heclo.

4. The Public Presidency: Press, Media, and Public Approval.

The Press and the Presidency, Mark J. Rozell.

Spin Control in the White House, John Anthony Maltese.

The Presidential Pulpit: Bully or Baloney?, George C. Edwards, III.

Public Opinion Polls: The New Referendum, Paul Brace and Barbara Hinckley.

Presidential Impeachment Politics, Richard M. Pious.

5. The Institutional Presidency.

The White House Staff, The President's Committee on Administrative Management (Brownlow Committee).

The President's Cabinet, Ronald C. Moe.

Locked in the Cabinet, Robert B. Reich.

The Changing Presidential Office, Hugh Heclo.

Can the President Manage the Government?, James P Pfiffner.

Bureaucracy in the American Constitutional Order, Francis E. Rourke.

Presidential Appointments and the Office of Presidential Personnel, Bradley H. Patterson and James P. Pfiffner.

6. The Separation of Powers.

Presidential Relations with Congress, Roger H. Davidson.

The Disappearing Political Center, Sarah A. Binder.

The Presidency in a Separated System, Charles O. Jones.

Is the Separation of Powers Obsolete? The Congressional-Presidential Balance of Power, Robert J. Spitzer.

Judicial Control of the Presidency: Stability and Change, Robert Dudley.

7. Domestic Policy Leadership.

The Hundred Days, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

The Power to Persuade, Richard Neustadt.

The Presidency and Domestic Policy: The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Robert D. Loevy.

Presidential Management of the Economy, Donald F. Kettl.

8. Commander-in-Chief and National Security.

Invitation to Struggle: The President, Congress, and National Security, Louis Fisher.

The Demise of the War Clause, David Mervin.

[Iran-Contra] What Was Wrong, Report of the President's Special Review Board.

Making Foreign Policy: President and Congress, Thomas E. Mann.

9. Evaluating Presidents: Greatness and Abuse of Power.

Watergate: Implications for Responsible Government, Frederick C. Mosher.

Three Crises of Character in the Modern Presidency, James P. Pfiffner.

Being Liked and Being President, Paul Brace and Barbara Hinkley.

“If Men Were Angels..." Presidential Leadership and Accountability, Thomas Cronin and Michael Genovese.

“The Transformation of the Bush Presidency,” James P. Pfiffner.

Presidency (American Government and Politics)

Understanding the Presidency, 5/E
Pfiffner & Davidson
©2009 | Longman | Paper; 528 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205649874 | ISBN-13: 9780205649877
Net price: $61.35 (What's this?)Brief Description

Updated with new readings on the war in Iraq, the war on terror, the frontloaded nomination process, and President Bush’s place in history, the new edition of this popular reader gives students the analytical tools needed to make sense of the modern presidency and its relationship with other key players in our political system.

The selections in this reader were chosen with two aims in mind: (1) to provide a historical perspective, so often neglected in similar texts, that explains how the events of the past two centuries led us to where we are today, and (2) to present the most important current issues that are shaping the Bush administration and the presidency more broadly. This collection of readings offers students a combination of “classic” scholarly analyses, the best of current scholarship, and engaging insights into the nature of the contemporary presidency.

Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.