The American Presidency (320-0-20)
Instructors
Daniel Galvin
847 491 2641
601 University Place, 103 Scott Hall
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/daniel-galvin.html
Meeting Info
University Hall 122: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
This course examines major themes in the study of the presidency, with particular emphasis on the tension between executive power and democracy. Topics include the nature and scope of executive power; presidential selection; presidential vs. parliamentary systems; and prominent scholarly theories of presidential leadership. While we will discuss current events, the aim of the course is to develop analytical tools to better understand and evaluate the past, present, and future of presidential politics.
Registration Requirements
Attendance at first class required; Auditing not permitted
Recommended: POLI_SCI 220 or equivalent
Learning Objectives
Students will develop an understanding of how institutional arrangements powerfully shape presidential behavior; they will learn key facts about the development of the presidency and its relationship to the broader political system, including Congress and the political parties; and they will gain a firm grasp of major scholarly theories of presidential power and leadership in the political science literature.
Teaching Method
Lectures and discussion sections
Evaluation Method
two midterms + take-home final exam, reading responses, research participation requirement
Class Materials (Required)
Stephen Skowronek, Presidential Leadership in Political Time: Reprise and Reappraisal, University Press of Kansas, 2020, 3rd ed. (ISBN 978-0700629435).
Michael C. Nelson, ed., The Presidency and the Political System, Sage, 12th ed. (ISBN: 9781544379784).
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - TBA: Thurs 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - TBA: Thurs 3:00PM - 3:50PM
DIS - TBA: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - TBA: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM