With the Stroke of a Pen

Most people believe that the President's primary power comes from the "power to persuade," and that both the Congress and the courts have considerably more power in reality than the executive. Mayer presents a contrasting view through his in-depth study of executive orders. Using examples from civil rights and foreign policy, he demonstrates how presidents have inherent legal power and how they pursue foreign policy without Congressional assent or interference. Mayer portrays the president as the single most powerful individual in American politics and shows Presidential Orders to be a richly political body of literature.

This book can be found in HECSA Library"

With the Stroke of a Pen: Executive Orders and Presidential Power
Kenneth R. Mayer
KF 5053 .M39 2002

Presidential Powers

Originally established in Article II of the Constitution, presidential powers today are determined by judicial decisions as well as by historical precedents. Kent explores how the president expresses and uses power, as well as how this power is kept balanced by the legislative and judicial branches. He explores three overlapping needs for presidential power that are expressed in the Constitution--providing leadership on foreign policy, maintaining congressional control over policymaking, and ensuring that the president is accountable to the public. He considers presidential ability to appoint federal officials, make treaties, conduct war, pardon criminals, and the interaction of the president with congressional and judicial requests for information. Kent's subject material is wide-sweeping, drawing on historical as well as contemporary examples to illustrate his points.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

Presidential Powers
Harold J. Krent
JK 516 .K73 2005

Power without Persuasion

For a long time, Presidential scholars have asserted that the power of the president rested on the ability to persuade. Without this ability to convince other political actors, specifically Congress, they believed little could be accomplished. Howell argues quite the opposite. He sites numerous occasions from the Louisiana Purchase through present day when presidents have made unilateral policy decisions without support for their position, and often even over the vocal objections of Congress, agencies, or other political interest groups. Beyond his historical study, however, Howell examines the political conditions in which presidents are able to change policies without congressional or judicial support or consent. This is an important shift in interpretation that will certainly change how the office of the president is seen.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

Power Without Persuasion: The Politics of Direct Presidential Action
William G. Howell
KF 5053 .H68 2003