Rivals For Power: Presidential Congressional Relations

by James A. Thurber (Contributor), Gary Andres (Contributor), Richard E. Cohen (Contributor)

The second term of President George W. Bush may seem like a paradigm of undivided government, with the executive and both houses of Congress firmly grounded in the Republican party. Yet already there are rumblings among Republicans, let alone the grumblings of the disaffected Democrats. Divided or unified, the Presidential-Congressional rivalry continues unabated. What is it about the institutional relationship between Congress and the presidency that ensures conflict even in the face of necessary cooperation? Here, well-known scholars and practitioners of Congressional-Presidential relations come together to explore both branches of government and what unites as well as divides them. Highlights include chapters on budgetary politics in a time of deep deficit, the impact of campaign messages and election mandates, veto bargaining, and the making of U.S. foreign policy over four decades. Case studies of budget battles, trade wars, and the war in Iraq lend concrete detail to political theory. Firsthand experience on the Hill and in the Oval Office--and everywhere in between--is reflected in each chapter. Election 2004 is known for resolving some of the conflicts that the 2000 election left in play. The new edition of Rivals for Power shows how even a seeming mandate can be made subject to the rules and rigors of Washington's built-in rivalry.

Genres: Politics, Political Science

Paperback

First published February 1, 1996

Reviews

[Rhea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this for class. There's a lot to learn but it gets very boring at times.

[Scotty · Rating 2 out of 5]

As would be expected of a textbook of this nature, Rivals for Power is not terribly entertaining. However, this doesn't stop the reader from learning about some basic concepts. This book's biggest downfall is its sloppy editing. At times, the grammar is so atrocious that the main points get lost in jumbled of run-on sentences and comma splices. If you're an educator considering using this for a class, pick it up, but don't expect the students to learn from the book alone. Be ready to answer plenty of questions about the readings. If you're interested in learning about the relationship between congress and the president on your own, skip this. You'd probably be better off looking into the book's sources.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. I wish my adult learning experiences featured more books like this and less frickin power point.