Description
Book SynopsisGraham G. Dodds explores the constitutional and historical development of unilateral presidential directives-the ability of presidents to bypass the legislative process and set public policy via their own executive orders-and how such a practice fits Americans' conception of democracy.
Trade Review"Beautifully written and utterly transparent,
Take Up Your Pen illuminates a vitally important aspect of presidential power-namely, the capacity of presidents to bypass the legislative process and set public policy via their own executive orders. These powers have been exercised since the very beginning of the nation's history, but as Dodds shows us, they have recently gained new urgency." * William G. Howell, University of Chicago *
Table of ContentsChapter 1. Unilateral Directives and the Presidency
Chapter 2. The Constitutional Executive
Chapter 3. Judicial Sanction
Chapter 4. Early Unilateral Presidential Directives
Chapter 5. Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Unilateral Presidential Directives
Chapter 6. Unilateral Presidential Directives from Roosevelt to Roosevelt: Taft through
Chapter 7. Unilateral Presidential Directives from the Postwar Era to the Present Day
Chapter 8. Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
