| Unit name | The American Presidency |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLI31379 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Ross |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit offers a conceptual and empirical analysis of the modern presidency, focusing on the capacity for policy leadership. The course is divided into three main sections. Following an introduction to the 'presidential dilemma', we investigate the political context for the exercise of presidential policy leadership, examining the selection process, the importance of presidential character and skill, and the increasingly close relationship between the president and the public. We then proceed to analyse the institutional context for presidential leadership, examining the relationship between the president, the executive branch, Congress and the judiciary. This provides us with a basis for exploring the policy context for presidential leadership, including domestic policy and national security and crisis decision-making.
Option 1 – A 1hr lecture and 2 hour seminar
Option 2 – A 3 hr seminar
