Debating the Presidency - Book Report/Review Example

Debating the Presidency In the book ‘debating the presidency’, Richard Ellis and Michael Nelson have assembled scholars to give pros and cons essays which are meant to inspire debate and provoke the readers thinking. Each essay is written in a debate resolution form offering a concise and compelling view about the American executive. In the essays, the scholars debate on the twenty second amendment, extents to which presidential signed statements affect separation of powers, abolition of the position of the vice president and whether war against terror require checks on the presidential powers. Nelson and Ellis introduce every pair in an effort to prepare the readers for the critical argument (Ellis & Nelson 12). This enables them to decide for themselves which side of the debate is more persuasive. Chapter one The first debate between David Nicholas and Terri Bimes is about the presidency and the modern constitution. Nicholas agreed with the topic and argued that presidency today is an outgrowth of the presidency that was created by the framers. Bimes on the other had argued that today’s presidency is not recognized in the weak office which was intended by the framers. She insists that they would not approve that the office exists (Ellis & Nelson 13). Terri argues the roles of the president, chief legislator, popular leader, and executive of the federal bureaucracy are the domestic roles of the president. Chapter two In this chapter the debate is between Richard Ellis and Sai Krishna Prakash. Richard supported the motion that states that that the unitary executive was a myth. He argued that there was no unitary executive. He said the executive is divided into three distinctive branches which were equally powerful. Prakash strongly supported the idea of unitary executive. According to him the president has the authority and powers to direct execution of laws by officers from the branches (Ellis & Nelson 25). He also says that the president has the foreign affairs powers have been granted to the president by executive power through the constitution. Chapter three This debate was between Michael Nelson and Andrew Busch. Michael supports the argument suggesting that political parties should nominate the presidential candidates through the national primary. He said the party should choose candidates and delegates at the primary stage. It makes people more involved in the election process. Andrew strongly opposed this argument claiming that it made the election process more complicated. He suggests that it makes the whole process more structured. Chapter four This debate was between Burdett Loomis and Byron Shafer. Burdett supported the idea that the president should be elected directly by the people. He argues that this was the most transparent way of electing a president. He suggested that through letting people elect their president is allowing them to practice their democratic rights. Also when people directly elect the president a choice of the majority is selected. It prevents dictatorship and enhances democracy. It allows the citizens to participate in the running of the country as the elected president represents the needs of people (Ellis & Nelson 43). Byron on the other side argues that the president should be appointed by the people at the higher government positions. He suggested that the president should be elected indirectly. Chapter five This debate was between David carol and Thomas Cronin. David supported the motion and argued that the 22nd amendment should be repealed. According to him the constitution should not limit the number of years a president should serve. He suggested that a president should stay in office as long as people wanted him there. He said that so long as the leader is competent he should rule for as many terms as he could. Thomas supported the 22nd amendment and argued that it should not be repealed (Ellis & Nelson 52). He argued that a president should rule for a maximum of two terms then he should step aside and allow others the opportunity of ruling. He argued that the leadership position is for everyone and not for a few people. He suggested that leaders become incompetent when they overstay in power. Chapter six The debate is between Stephen Skowronek and Fred Greenstein. Stephen supports the argument that the presidential achievement success and failure are affected by the political time in which he serves and not the character of the president or his leadership qualities. Stephen suggested that when a leader overstayed in power he becomes less competent (Ellis & Nelson 52). With time in power leaders are tempted to be corrupt and dictative. Fred argued that the president time in power does not affect his achievement and success. Chapter seven The debate is between Matt Dickinson and George Edwards. Matt supports the motions and suggests that the presidential power is always the power to persuade (Ellis & Nelson 112). He suggest this is the power with the highest authority in the country. George was strongly against this idea. Chapter 8 Majority of the squabbles that are experienced in the United States of America are based on the various bills proposed by the president. However, as the policy if the United States is, there is no bill that can directly ascend and become a law without the concept of Congress. Congress is equally a very important organ when it comes to the dictation of the foreign policy and the new laws that are to be impacted among the people of the United States. Major controversial issues in the Congress discussions are the budget process reforms, which is marked by numerous flaws. Simple majority votes often override congressional budgetary restraints which always consist of three-fifths of the votes in the senate and majority of the votes obtained from the House of Representatives (Ellis & Nelson 136). During the budgetary making process, the president and the congress operate independently until the end of the process where they are not allowed to share an opinion about the contents of the budget. The splitting of the budget into small bits has given Congress the allowance to spend a lot of money not on development agendas and this has frustrated the allocation of the taxpayer dollar. This chapter therefore focuses of the great debates in Congress over various important claws in the constitution of the United States and the role of the president and the House of Representatives. These caps include: Statutory Spending Caps, Honest and Realistic Budget Scoring and the Strengthening of the budget resolution. These issues are so critical in the United States that they ought to be a directive on how they are handled and agreed upon by the president and the House of Representatives as argued by D.B Wood and Terry Moe. Chapter 9 The United States constitution debars the president from making sole rational decision s which is in line with then foreign policy without consultation with the Congress. When the national security of the United States is threatened by forces from outside the United States, the president is to consult with congress on what decision they are to make before they indulge in any form of action. There was a great debate on whether the president is entitled to all the decisions pertaining civil war and the America’s engagement. Nancy Kassop had the firm grounds that the decisions lie in the docket of the presidency while Richard on the other hand views it as a subject that is so pertinent and requires a consolidated opinion between the president and the Congress. Chapter 10 There has been marked similarity in terms of vigilance and the fight against terrorism by the current president of the United States of America, Mr Barrack Obama. The approach adopted is the non-negotiation with terrorists and in case of any threat sensed by the United States intelligence, there is an equal reaction. A major success was when Osama Bin Laden was killed through an armed ambush with air support from the US Air forces. The United States has had to deal with threats of war from Korea and China and have been able to foster a good relationship since the war could have involved nuclear weapons, of which the United States has a strict policy against (Ellis & Nelson 178). However, many have had a different opinion towards this approach to war and terrorism there is the fact of valuing humanity and there is also another which focuses on the inflicting of fear on the people of the United States. Georg e Bush did not tolerate any treat towards the American soil and that is something Barrack Obama should adopt. Chapter 11 The work of the legislature id tm come up with various directives and strategies that are of importance and do not threaten the rule of law and create a tension that might also lead to the separation of powers. Statements contain proposals that only solve an immediate situation and may not be specifically applied in the future (Ellis & Nelson 177). This may create a controversy in the future if two contradictory statements are signed by the president. Congress does not also get the opportunity to review the statements that the president puts a sign to therefore it becomes a threat to the rule of law and separation of powers. Chapter 12 There has been contention on the matter of appointment of czars to supervise various initiatives. This, according to majority of the legislators undermines the powers of the constitution. The decision of the President to expand the executive wing and overlook cabinet officers with a president select group of assistants who are called czars jeopardizes the constitution of the United States. The debate arose where by these appointments were to be approved by the senate and prevent the undermining of the powers vested on Congress by the constitution (Ellis & Nelson 179). Chapter 13 The ability of the president to nominate federal judges has created rifts which portray that if given such power, then he assumes absolute power over the law and the country. It also questions as to whether it is prudent to elect judges or appoint them (Ellis & Nelson 180). The appointment has been marked with various views with some saying it can be manipulated or even a big game plan. Judges should fight of in panels and let themselves prove their worth. Works Cited Richard Ellis, Michael Nelson. Debating the Presidency: Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive, 2nd Edition. New York: CQ Press, 2009. Read More