* Offers a narrative of presidential development that encompasses the entire sweep of American history rather than just the period since FDR, which frequently gets ignored, thus grounding students in background they need to appreciate contemporary events.

* Provides excellent treatment of constitutional and legal aspects of the presidency, giving students a means by which to assess the Trump administration and impeachments as well as looking ahead to the more traditional Biden presidency

. * The book is consistently praised for the quality of writing, so important to students resistant to reading.

New to the Fourth Edition

Explicit and expanded attention to the role of norms in shaping and constraining presidential power, with special focus on Trump’s norm-breaking and Biden’s efforts to shore up norms

Enhanced focus on the prospects for institutional reform, including in the electoral college, presidential relations with Congress, war powers, and the selection of Supreme Court justices

A full reckoning with the Trump presidency and its significance for the future of American democracy, presidential rhetoric, the unilateral executive, and the administrative state

Coverage of the first year of Biden’s presidency, including presidential rhetoric, relations with Congress and the bureaucracy, use of the war powers, and unilateral directives

Comprehensive updating of debates about the removal power, including the Supreme Court cases of Seila Law v. CFPB and Collins v. Yellen

In-depth exploration of the impact of partisan polarization on the legislative presidency and effective governance

Analysis of the 2020 election and its aftermath

Expanded discussion of impeachment to incorporate Trump’s two impeachments

Examination of presidential emergency powers, with special attention to Trump’s border wall declaration

Review of Biden’s and Trump’s impact on the judiciary

Assessment of Biden’s and Trump’s place in political time