Article 1: Deering, C. J., & Maltzman, F. (1999). The politics of executive orders: Legislative constraints on presidential power. Political Research Quarterly, 52, 767–783.

This article discusses Presidents use of executive orders as a way to circumvent the policymaking process. The authors argue that strategic presidents often use executive order to circumvent a hostile Congress, but not likely if they are to be overturned by Congress. The authors test their hypothesis by looking at the annual variation in the number of orders issued during the post World War II period.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the conventional wisdom regarding presidents and the use of executive orders?
2. What approach to the authors take when testing their hypothesis? Are there any issues with their methodology?
3. Which measures are used to test the hypothesis that president issue more executive orders as their support in Congress declines?
4. Are executive orders a viable strategy for presidents?

Learning objective: Identify strategies and tools presidents employ to overcome the constitutional limitations of that office; Describe the organization and the functions of the executive office

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Article 2: Teten, R. L. (2007). “We the People”: The “modern” rhetorical popular address of the presidents during the founding period. Political Research Quarterly, 60, 669–682.

This article discusses the use of popular rhetoric within the president’s State of the Union Addresses in order to determine whether presidents consistently use the tool of going public and whether it is in fact a modern development. The author finds that former presidents also exhibited modern tendencies in their addresses.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the difference between the traditional and modern presidency?
2. What is the going public thesis and do all presidents use this tool to gain the public’s support on various policies?

Learning objective: Identify strategies and tools presidents employ to overcome the constitutional limitations of that office; Describe the organization and the functions of the executive office

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Article 3: Whitford, A. B., & Ochs, H. L. (2006). The political roots of executive clemency.  American Politics Research, 34, 825–846.

This article addresses the conventional wisdom that president’s pardons are political. The authors move beyond this assertion and assess five ways that pardons may be influenced by the policy agendas in the American system of separated powers. The authors find that probability for pardon denials reflects the president’s agenda and ideological position, congressional attention to crime rates, and homicide rates.

Questions to Consider:

1. What does the existing literature focus on?
2. How is the clemency power used to check the power of the judicial branch?

Learning objective: Identify strategies and tools presidents employ to overcome the constitutional limitations of that office; Describe the organization and the functions of the executive office

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CQ Researcher

• Presidential Power

Learning objective: Give examples of ways in which public opinion affects the relationships between citizens and the president; Compare the modern presidency with the founders' expectations for a limited executive; Identify strategies and tools presidents employ to overcome the constitutional limitations of that office