Rivals for Power: Presidential-Congressional Relations

Rivals for Power is a lively description of the power struggle between the president and Congress. In it, leading congressional and presidential scholars and knowledgeable former public officials consider the historical, political, and constitutional foundations of conflict between the two branches. The authors give practical advice about how to build cooperative policymaking between the president and Congress as they struggle over major crises in solving economic problems and addressing domestic issues and the challenges in defense and foreign policy making. The book features original academic research and practitioner knowledge from the White House and the Hill. This fourth edition includes all new essays with unique and critical viewpoints on the role of the president and Congress in the policy making process. Many of the essays focus on lessons learned about cooperation and conflict between the two branches from the Clinton and Bush presidencies. The essays include preliminary analyses of President Barack Obama's relationship with Congress. Because the authors have made major contributions as congressional and presidential scholars, and have played key roles in Congress, in the White House, in the media, and as lobbyists, each chapter presents a different perspective. The new edition of Rivals for Power is intended for students, scholars, public officials, the media, and the general public. Contributions by Gary Andres, Richard S. Conley, Roger H. Davidson, The Honorable Mickey Edwards, Louis Fisher, Patrick Griffin, The Honorable Lee H. Hamilton, Mark J. Oleszek, Walter J. Oleszek, John E. Owens, James P. Pfiffner, Mark J. Rozell, Andrew Rudalevige, BarbaraSinclair, Mitchel A. Sollenberger, James A. Thurber, Stephen J. Wayne, and Joseph White.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 An Introduction to Presidential-Congressional Cooperation and Conflict Chapter 2 Partisan Polarization, Politics, and the Presidency: Structural Sources of Conflict Chapter 3 From Washington to Obama: The Evolution of Legislative Presidency Chapter 4 The President and the Congressional Party Leadership in a Polarized Era Chapter 5 Understanding Presidential Relations with Congress Chapter 6 The Presidency and Congressional Time Chapter 7 The Legislative Presidency in Political Time: Unified Government, Divided Government, and Presidential Leverage in Congress Chapter 8 The Imperial Presidency vs. the Hill Chapter 9 Executive Privilege and the Unitary Executive Theory in the George W. Bush Administration Chapter 10 The President's Budget vs. Congressional Budgeting: Institutionalizing the Adversarial Presidency? Chapter 11 Congress and the President: "Yes We Can!" or "Can We? Chapter 12 Relations Between the President and Congress in Wartime Chapter 13 Rivals Only Sometimes? Presidentialism, Unilateralism and Congressional Acquiescence in the US "War on Terror" Chapter 14 The President, Congress, Military Tribunals and Guantanamo Chapter 15 The President and Congress: Separate, Independent and Completely Equal

About the Author :
James A. Thurber is University Distinguished Professor of Government and founder and director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington, D.C.

Review :
This collection of smart, insightful essays by an impressive combination of Washington insiders and top political scholars gives a lively and penetrating view of the contemporary relationship between the presidency and congress. It is a terrific resource for students, researchers and political practitioners. Recommended. At the cusp of a new era in congressional-presidential relations, a new edition of Rivals for Power is a most welcome and timely arrival. Once again, James Thurber has collected an important set of essays that illuminate the complex relations between the president and Congress. Combining multiple perspectives, this distinguished group of congressional and presidential experts provides accessible analyses that will help students, scholars, and citizens sort out the relations between the White House and Capitol Hill.