Debating the presidency : conflicting perspectives on the American executive / edited by Richard J. Ellis and Michael Nelson.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Resolved, the framers of the Constitution would approve of the modern presidency / pro, David Nichols ; con, Terri Bimes -- 2. Resolved, political parties should nominate candidates for the presidency through a national primary / pro, Michael Nelson ; con, Andrew E. Busch -- 3. Resolved, the president should be elected directly by the people / pro, Burdett Loomis ; con, Byron E. Shafer -- 4. Resolved, the twenty-second amendment should be repealed / pro, David Karol ; con, Thomas E. Cronin -- 5. Resolved, the media are too hard on presidents / pro, Matthew R. Kerbel ; con, Bartholomew H. Sparrow -- 6. Resolved, the president is a more authentic representative of the American people than is Congress / pro, Marc J. Hetherington ; con, Richard J. Ellis -- 7. Resolved, presidents have usurped the war power that rightfully belongs to Congress / pro, Nancy Kassop ; con, Richard M. Pious -- 8. Resolved, fighting the War on Terrorism requires relaxing checks on presidential power / pro, John Yoo ; con, Louis Fisher -- 9. Resolved, presidential signing statements threaten to undermine the rule of law and the separation of powers / pro, Peter M. Shane ; con, Nelson Lund -- 10. Resolved, the president has too much power in the selection of judges / pro, David A. Yalof ; con, John Anthony Maltese -- 11. Resolved, the vice presidency should be abolished / pro, Douglas L. Kriner ; con, Joel K. Goldstein -- 12. Resolved, a president's personal attributes are the best predictors of performance in the White House / pro, Fred I. Greenstein ; con, Stephen Skowronek -- 13. Resolved, great presidents are agents of democratic change / pro, Marc Landy ; con, Bruce Miroff.