A Presidential Nation

"Speaking on the perceived immutability of the US Constitution, Thomas Jefferson presciently warned that 'We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy.' In A Presidential Nation, Michael Genovese demonstrates how and why the boy's constitutional coat no longer fits a mature nation. Genovese's analysis of the variations in congressional and judicial resistance to the concentration of presidential power over time is forceful and incisive. But this book is not merely an update to The Imperial Presidency. Rather, it provides theoretical models for understanding the concentration of power into the unitary executive doctrine, and provides a prescription for principles that better suit a modern superpower than the constitutional restrictions from 200 years ago. Genovese convincingly shows that unless we want to return to isolationism and shirk our responsibilities of global leadership in the modern era, we must update our constitutional system. The coat no longer fits, and Genovese has tailored a new one that does. This is an important book, and it should be of vital interest to anyone concerned with how our centuries-old system of government can withstand the perils of the modern world." --Todd L. Belt, University of Hawai'i at Hilo "A Presidential Nation is a spirited contribution to the rise, entrenchment and consequences for America of the cult of the presidency and the dangers it poses to the republic." --David Gray Adler, University of Idaho "A fast walk through the historical development of the presidency that ends with a bang! Professor Michael Genovese not only details the rise in presidential power and authority, but he also suggests a series of thought-provoking reforms to simultaneously modernize American government and shrink the imperial presidency. This masterfully crafted, yet surprisingly compact volume should be read by not only students and scholars, but also the American public. Advocating for a constitutionally bound strong executive, Professor Genovese's A Presidential Nation will surely foster discussion and debate beyond the classroom. A pleasure to read, it is both eye-opening and eye-catching." --Lara M. Brown, Villanova University