PSCI 301: The American Presidency

Professor Karako

This course explores different views of the presidency and the nature of presidential leadership. The Founders' view will be compared with developments since Franklin Roosevelt, including the imperial and post-imperial presidencies. A central concern will be understanding the constitutional powers of and restraints on the modern president. We will study presidential selection, the president's relations with other parts of the government, and the president's role in domestic and foreign policy making. The course concludes with a study of presidential leadership and of the proper ends and means by which to exercise political power, with particular attention to the presidencies of George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. This course can be used to complete the requirement in American politics for political science majors. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every two years.