American Presidential Power

Abstract

The role and powers of the president have come under increasing scrutiny since the tragic events of September 11. While the current political debate is focused on the unilateral actions of the office of the president since the terrorist attack, interest in the ways presidents use and manage the power of their position have been a subject of concern since George Washington. Amalia Monroe explores the history and methods of presidential power in this highly useful guide. While the guide is designed for college-level research, there are many suggestions for public libraries and a selection that would serve the needs of high school students as well. Monroe is a social sciences librarian at the University of Kansas, where she works as the bibliographer for political science and international documents. In addition to receiving her MLS from Indiana University, Monroe has a BS and MS in political science from Illinois State University.--The Editor American presidential power has long been an area of interest in the social sciences and receives increasing attention from researchers and the mass media. This popularity has resulted in an abundance of research materials on the topic. The problem, however, is that these materials can be very difficult to locate, as they are scattered across several disciplines (e.g., political science, history, and sociology) and are published in a variety of sources that are not always well indexed by databases and online catalogs (e.g., articles in reference sources and chapters in books). Locating research materials on American presidential power can also be difficult because it is often subsumed in sources covering the presidency as a whole. Even bibliographies, which could help to identify resources in this area, are scarce and dated. The goal of this guide is to fill this gap by listing and describing core resources addressing American presidential power as well as resources that librarians can use to evaluate or update their existing collections. The guide includes some of the most important reference sources, biographical sources, books, periodicals, journal articles, databases, government information resources, and Internet resources on the topic. REFERENCE SOURCES Genovese, Michael A., ed. Encyclopedia of the American Presidency. New York: Facts on File, 2004 (ISBN: 978-0-8160-4699-7). Arranged alphabetically by topic, this encyclopedia includes entries addressing the operations and the institution of the presidency and individual administrations. Relevant articles include War Powers, Theories of, and Separation of Powers. Each entry is brief but concise, explaining key concepts related to the presidency. The title is out of print but remains an essential reference source and should be retained in all collections. Israel, Fred L. Presidential Documents: The Speeches, Proclamations, and Policies That Have Shaped the Nation from Washington to Clinton. New York: Routledge, 2000 (ISBN: 978-0-415-92037-7). Guide to significant presidential sources from important events in the American presidency. Sources include speeches, proclamations, and executive orders. This is a selective source; however, each entry is followed by a discussion explaining its significance. These sources are useful for understanding the actions of presidents. Nelson, Michael. Guide to the Presidency. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Pr., 2007 (ISBN: 978-0-87289-364-1). Two volumes covering all aspects of the American presidency. It is divided into eight parts. In the third part, of the Presidency, the authors divide different sources and expressions of presidential power into seven detailed and exhaustive chapters. These include Unilateral Powers of the Presidency, Legislative Leader, and Commander in Chief. Each ends with notes and selected bibliographies. Cross-referencing is also provided, which demonstrates the relationship between discussions of presidential power. …