The Myth of the Imperial Presidency: How Public Opinion Checks the Unilateral Executive, Christenson, Kriner

Throughout American history, presidents have shown a startling power to act independently of Congress and the courts. On their own initiative, presidents have taken the country to war, abolished slavery, shielded undocumented immigrants from deportation, declared a national emergency at the border, and more, leading many to decry the rise of an imperial presidency. But given the steep barriers that usually prevent Congress and the courts from formally checking unilateral power, what stops presidents from going it alone even more aggressively?  The answer, Dino P. Christenson and Douglas L. Kriner argue, lies in the power of public opinion. With robust empirical data and compelling case studies, the authors reveal the extent to which domestic public opinion limits executive might. Presidents are emboldened to pursue their own agendas when they enjoy strong public support, and constrained when they don’t, since unilateral action risks inciting political pushback, jeopardizing future initiatives, and further eroding their political capital. Although few Americans instinctively recoil against unilateralism, Congress and the courts can sway the public’s view via their criticism of unilateral policies. Thus, other branches can still check the executive branch through political means. As long as presidents are concerned with public opinion, Christenson and Kriner contend that fears of an imperial presidency are overblown.

IOPGA: Bipartisan Policy Review - 2022 by CornellBrooksSchool - Issuu

Research Dino P. Christenson

Executive Power in Crisis, American Political Science Review

Going Local: Presidential Leadership in the Post-Broadcast Age - Kindle edition by Cohen, Jeffrey E.. Politics & Social Sciences Kindle eBooks @ .

Why Biden isn't getting a 'rally round the flag' public opinion boost - The Washington Post

Political Institutions in Polarized Times (Part II) - Democratic Resilience

Douglas L. Kriner's research works Cornell University, Ithaca (CU) and other places

The Myth of the Imperial Presidency: How Public Opinion Checks the Unilateral Executive 9780226704531

The Myth of the Imperial Presidency: How Public Opinion Checks the Unilateral Executive, Doug Kriner, Cornell University

Does Public Opinion Constrain Presidential Unilateralism?, American Political Science Review

National security in presidential time: The politics of the National Security Council - Snyder - 2023 - Presidential Studies Quarterly - Wiley Online Library

Course Syllabus: The West Wing as History (Spring, 2021)

Energy versus safety: unilateral action, voter welfare, and executive accountability, Political Science Research and Methods

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