About The Presidency and the Executive Branch

This course examines various topics related to the American presidency and the executive branch. Unit 1 begins with an introduction to the origins of the office and the early debates amongst the Framers of the Constitution surrounding the institution of the presidency. The course will then focus on the components of the Constitution that pertain to presidential power, learning about several important Supreme Court cases regarding these powers and the limits thereof. Unit 2 will examine various aspects of the election process and explore the two states of presidential elections: the nominations stage and the general election. In Unit 3, you will move on to the study of the presidency as an institution, discussing different models of White House organization, the presidents interactions with the other branches of government, the office of the vice presidency, and the evolution of the presidency over the years since its founding. Unit 4 focuses on the presidents relationship with the bureaucracy, particularly the elements of the bureaucracy over which the president has direct control (including the cabinet and the Executive Office of the President). You will then take a look at the nomination process by which the president fills vacancies in the executive branch upon taking office. In the fifth unit, you will discuss the bureaucracy in greater details, learning about the organization of the bureaucracy, the role that regulatory agencies and government corporations play within the bureaucracy, the rule-making process, and bureaucratic reform. This course will also touch upon the constitutional checks that other branches of government exercise on the bureaucracy. Finally, the last unit explores the ways in which different political scientists have defined presidential success. Upon completion of this course, you will have an understanding of the complexities and challenges surrounding the office of the American presidency. You will also be aware of the important role that the executive branch plays in our government.