Debating the presidency

the long version

"The study of the presidency-the power of the office, the evolution of the executive as an institution, the men who have served-has generated a great body of research and scholarship. This book encourages students to grapple with the ideas of the literature by presenting conflicting perspectives on some of the most pivotal issues facing the modern presidency. In the three pro/con pairs that are new to this edition, contributors debate if executive orders undermined democracy, if social media has brought the president closer to the people, and if the vice presidency should be abolished. Ellis and Nelson introduce each pair of essays, giving students context and preparing them to read each argument critically, so they can decide for themselves which side of the debate they find most persuasive."