This course provides an introduction to the study of the American presidency. The course has four aims. The first is to introduce students broadly to the facts and functioning of the presidency as an institution at different points in American history. This includes the design, development, and operation of the institution as well as the behavior of the office’s occupants. We also study how presidents interact with the other branches in the U.S. separation of powers system. The second goal of the course is to force students to think critically about the presidency as an institution. Third, informed by history and an understanding of the institution, students should be able to predict presidential behavior in specific circumstances. The final goal of the course is to motivate further study of the presidency beyond what is offered in this course. Some questions the course will address are: 
        • What are the president’s constitutional powers?
        • How do presidential elections work? 
        • What is the president’s role in the legislature? 
        • How do presidents organize their staffs? 
        • What is the president’s role in foreign policy?