Description
Book SynopsisAt a time when the institution of the presidency seems in a state of almost permanent crisis, it is particularly important to understand what sort of an institution the framers of the Constitution thought they were creating. Founding the American Presidency offers a first-hand view of the minds of the founders by bringing together extensive selections from the constitutional convention in Philadelphia as well as representative selections from the subsequent debates over ratification. Organized topically, the book focuses on those issues of executive power that most deeply concerned and often sharply divided the founders, including the electoral college and impeachment, the presidential term and reeligibility, the veto power and war powers, the power of appointment and the power of pardon. EllisO judicious selections mean that teachers and students no longer need to settle for the meager rations of a Federalist paper or two supplemented by a quick summary of the founders'' thoughts befo
Trade ReviewThe author has done an excellent job of conveying the fact that there was a real debate over the presidency specifically and the Constitution in general in which reasonable arguments could be found on both sides. Few texts accomplish this feat. -- Andrew Busch, University of Denver
Absolutely first rate—Richard Ellis is a superb writer and a thorough and original scholar. Founding the American Presidency is well conceived and well executed, perfect for any course on the presidency. -- Michael Nelson, Rhodes College
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction: Prelude to the Presidency Part 2 Part I: Constituting the Executive Chapter 3 One President or Many? Chapter 4 An Executive Council? Part 5 Part II: Selecting the President Chapter 6 The Long and Tortuous Debate Chapter 7 Term of Office and Reeligibility Chapter 8 The Electoral College Part 9 Part III: Empowering the President Chapter 10 To Veto or Not to Veto Chapter 11 War and Peace Chapter 12 The Power of Appointment Chapter 13 Pardon Power Part 14 Part IV: Removing the President Chapter 15 Impeachment Part 16 Debating Presidential Power Chapter 17 Goldilocks and the Three Branches: A President Too Strong, Too Weak, or Just Right?
