Debating the Presidency: Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive

Presidential performance, the Electoral College, and the balance of power between Congress and the president are discussed in every presidency text. But now you can expose your students to alternate points of view on these critical topics, incisively argued by today's leading presidential scholars. Moving far beyond a broad synthesis of the literature, this provocative reader will actively engage your students with conflicting perspectives, inspiring spirited debate beyond the pages of the book.

Each pro and con essay--written in the form of a debate resolution--offers a compelling yet concise view on the most pivotal issues facing the modern presidency: whether the framers of the Constitution would approve of the modern presidency, the media scrutinize the president too much, or the president is a better representative of the people than Congress. Ellis and Nelson introduce each pair of pro/con 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.