Description
Book SynopsisIn The Cavalier Presidency, author Justin P. DePlato analyzes the theory of executive emergency power across a wide breadth of philosophical history and reviews seven U.S. presidencies, concluding that presidents are becoming increasingly reckless when determining and using power during crisis.
Trade ReviewThe post-9/11 American presidency has been the focus of much scholarly and popular debate, given the strong exercise of 'emergency' executive power by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In The Cavalier Presidency, DePlato takes a closer look at executive emergency power by tracing and examining its use by presidents in several historical eras. DePlato uses these historical eras to highlight a key question in both political thought and action regarding the proper nature of executive emergency power: should such power be merely implied in the constitutional powers of the president or be explicitly defined in law? This leads to other key considerations, such as the proper role of Congress and the overall threat posed to constitutional democracy by emergency executive power. Overall, DePlato's book will be a helpful source for students of American government seeking an introduction to the dilemma of emergency executive power. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; undergraduate and graduate students. * CHOICE *
The arguments made in this book cover an important area of the presidency that is still considered 'unsettled' territory. The book is very well organized and covers key areas of this discussion. Justin DePlato has a point to make and a provocative position to defend. -- Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount University
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The Theory of Executive Emergency Power Chapter 2: American Perspective on Executive Emergency Powers: Anti-Federalists versus Federalists Chapter 3: George Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson’s Interpretations and Applications of Executive Emergency Power Chapter 4: Presidents James Madison’s and Andrew Jackson’s Interpretations and Applications of Executive Emergency Power Chapter 5: President Lincoln’s Interpretation and Application of Executive Emergency Power Chapter 6: George W. Bush’s Interpretation and Application of Executive Emergency Power Following the Attacks of September 11, 2001 Conclusion
