executive branch

The Problem of Presidential Isolation

by Michael A. Genovese

Today, who can speak truth to the president’s power? And to whom can a president unburden himself in those moments of stress and self-doubt? From whom can the president expect direct and candid advice?

George Washington and the Legacy of the Flexible Cabinet

by Lindsay M. Chervinsky

The Presidential Cabinet, and its flexible relationship to the chief executive and the work of the executive branch, is the most important legacy of the Washington presidency. It has served some administrations well and been the ruin of others. 

Four Myths of Presidential Power

by Daniel Farber

History looms large in arguments about the Constitution these days. But there are widespread misunderstandings of what history tells us about presidential powers, from making war to being impeached. 

Is History Ready to Judge the Trump Presidency?

by Samuel (Shenger) Zhou

Understandings of presidential success and failure might have to be revised for Donald Trump; while Trump failed to win reelection, his media tactics will allow him, unlike the previous Republican president George W. Bush, to retain control of his party and remain a national force even out of office. Is this the future of the presidency?

Lindsay Chervinsky's Five Best Books on Presidential Cabinets

The author of an acclaimed book about George Washington's creation of the cabinet recommends five books about presidential cabinets, including those of Lincoln, Eisenhower and JFK, the unofficial team of African American advisors to FDR, and the consequential relationship between George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. 

Loyalty and Duty in the Federal Bureaucracy, From Nixon to Trump

by Michael Koncewicz

Independent civil servants checked Richard Nixon's worst impulses to use the executive branch to punish enemies. The independence of the bureaucracy has since eroded, to Donald Trump's advantage. 

Weaken the Presidency—Even If Biden Wins

The conduct of the Trump administration shows a long trend of increased presidential power must be stopped. 

How Do We Fix the American Presidency?

Kevin Kruse and Julian Zelizer, along with political scientists William Howell and Terry M. Moe, offer context for growing concerns about the power of the Presidency. 

The Paradox of Executive Underreach

by Michael A. Genovese

While the Constitution says more about limiting the overreach of the executive branch, functioning government must beware of an underreaching executive that abdicates responsibility. 

Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Pick Launches Biden Towards A Cabinet That Looks Like America

by Lindsay M. Chervinsky

Joe Biden's selection of former rival Kamala Harris suggests he will follow other successful presidencies and appoint a cabinet that brings different views to policy discussions. 

Jim Cullen: Review of Michael J. Gerhardt's "The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy" (Oxford, 2013)

Jim Cullen, who teaches at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York, is a book review editor at HNN. His latest book, Sensing the Past: Hollywood Stars and Historical Visions, was recently published by Oxford University Press. Cullen blogs at American History Now.