Presidential Leadership

Politics and Policy Making, Twelfth Edition

George C. Edwards III; Kenneth R. Mayer and Stephen J. Wayne

Long established as a leading introduction to the American presidency, Presidential Leadership, twelfth edition provides students with a comprehensive survey that addresses the capacity of chief executives to fulfill their tasks, exercise their powers, and utilize their organizational structures to affect the output of government. The authors examine all aspects of the presidency in rich detail, including the president’s powers, presidential history, and the institution of the presidency.

The new edition has been substantially updated to integrate the Trump presidency, including both impeachments, and the first year of the Biden presidency. Other examples of the latest coverage include

The 2020 elections, including the contested aftermath of the presidential election and the January 6 riot
Changes to the presidential nomination process
The most recent Supreme Court nominations
The executive’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic
New developments in presidential public relations
Changes in media relations

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 632 •

978-1-5381-3611-9 • eBook • April 2022 • $85.50 • (£66.00)

Subjects: Political Science / American Government / Executive Branch

Courses: Political Science; American Government; Presidency

Presidential Leadership

Politics and Policy Making, Twelfth Edition

eBook

Summary

Long established as a leading introduction to the American presidency, Presidential Leadership, twelfth edition provides students with a comprehensive survey that addresses the capacity of chief executives to fulfill their tasks, exercise their powers, and utilize their organizational structures to affect the output of government. The authors examine all aspects of the presidency in rich detail, including the president’s powers, presidential history, and the institution of the presidency.
The new edition has been substantially updated to integrate the Trump presidency, including both impeachments, and the first year of the Biden presidency. Other examples of the latest coverage include
- The 2020 elections, including the contested aftermath of the presidential election and the January 6 riot
- Changes to the presidential nomination process
- The most recent Supreme Court nominations
- The executive’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic
- New developments in presidential public relations
- Changes in media relations

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 632 •

978-1-5381-3611-9 • eBook • April 2022 • $85.50 • (£66.00)

Subjects: Political Science / American Government / Executive Branch

Courses: Political Science; American Government; Presidency

Author

George C. Edwards III is University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University. He has served as both the Winant Professor of American Government and the Olin Professor of American Government at Oxford. He was also the founder and from 1991-2001 the director of The Center for Presidential Studies. A leading scholar of the presidency, he has written or edited 26 books on American politics and public policy making and more than 80 articles and book chapters.

Kenneth Mayer is professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His expertise is in the presidency, campaign finance, and election administration. He is the author of With the Stroke of a Pen: Executive Orders and Presidential Power, and an award-winning teacher.

Steve Wayne is professor of political science at Georgetown University. An expert on the American Presidency, he has authored over 100 articles, chapters, and book reviews and written 12 books, several in multiple editions, including Is This Any Way to Run a Democratic Election?

Table of Contents

Contents
List of Tables, Figures, and Photos
Preface
About the Authors
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – The Powers of the Presidency
Chapter 3 – The Nomination Process
Chapter 4 – The Presidential Election
Chapter 5 – The President and the Public
Chapter 6 – Leading the Public
Chapter 7 – The President and the Media
Chapter 8 – The Structure of the Presidency
Chapter 9 – Presidential Decision Making
Chapter 10 – The President and the Executive
Chapter 11 – The President and Congress
Chapter 12 – The President and the Judiciary
Chapter 13 – Domestic and Economic Policy Making
Chapter 14 – Foreign and Defense Policy
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Notes
Index

Reviews

Presidential Leadership is the preeminent guide to the institutional motivations and limitations faces presidents who seek change but upon discovering durable constraints have a humbling choice—revert to bargaining in Washington or face politically punishing policy defeats and the potential of electoral repudiation.
(Previous Edition Praise)
— Lawrence R. Jacobs, University of Minnesota

Contains all the important information about the institution and its place in policy and politics, while telling the stories of the presidents who influence our constantly evolving understanding of the presidency.
(Previous Edition Praise)
— Rebecca M. Eissler, San Francisco State University

The best book on the market, Presidential Leadership offers a comprehensive account of the American presidency. It balances what we know in political science with the ‘story-telling’ that students appreciate.
(Previous Edition Praise)
— Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, University of North Texas

This is the leading textbook on the American presidency. The authors not only cover the essential ‘nuts and bolts’ of the executive branch, but they also introduce students to the core research that scholars have conducted on the presidency.
(Previous Edition Praise)
— Adam L. Warber, Clemson University

This is the ‘go to’ book for teaching the presidency at the undergraduate level. Excellent presentation by distinguished scholars of the multiple and challenging aspects of the office.
(Previous Edition Praise)
— Melvin Laracey, University of Texas at San Antonio

Features

- Each chapter features discussion questions, web exercises, and selected readings
- The fullest and most up-to-date coverage of our 45th president
- Boxed feature highlights high interest examples to illustrate the concepts