Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-312) and index.
Summary:
"1. Introduction Joe Biden sought the presidency for most of his professional life. After winning election to the US Senate in 1972, Biden entered the race for the 1988 Democratic Party nomination but withdrew before the first contest. He didn't last much longer when he sought the 2008 nomination. But 2020 was his year, and what a year it was"-- Provided by publisher. Concerns about unaccountable executive power have featured recurrently in political debates from the American founding to today. For many, presidents' use of unilateral power threatens American democracy. No Blank Check advances a new perspective: Instead of finding Americans apathetic towards how presidents exercise power, it shows the public is deeply concerned with core democratic values/ Drawing on data from original surveys, innovative experiments, historical polls, and contexts outside the United States, the book highlights Americans' skepticism towards presidential power. This skepticism results in a public that punishes unilaterally minded presidents and the policies they pursue. By departing from existing theories of presidential power which acknowledge only institutional constraints, this timely and revealing book demonstrates the public's capacity to tame the unilateral impulses of even the most ambitious presidents. Ultimately, when it comes to exercising power, the public does not hand the president a blank check.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.