POL-3053 The U.S. Presidency

In this course we will investigate the presidency as an institution, and thus, our focus will be on how the presidency has evolved and consider the role and influence of the president in the contemporary politics of the United States. Specifically we will consider the historical origins of the presidency and powers conferred by the U.S. Constitution. Next, we will consider the process of nominating and electing the president and how the president presents and behaves in the public sphere once elected. We will investigate how the presidency is organized and what the implications are for the management of the federal government. Finally, we will consider the role of the president in shaping domestic, economic and foreign policy.