Nelson Ch. 1 - Evaluating the Presidency Michael Nelson

In this chapter, Nelson discusses the perceptions that various groups of individuals have of the president and presidential power.  What are the similarities and differences in those perceptions across groups?  What impact do these perceptions have upon the modern presidency?

• Scholars
  
  • What are the three models of the presidency that scholars have developed over the last several decades and what do each of them say about the presidency?
    
  
  
• Journalists
  
  • What is the nature of media coverage of presidents?  What occupational needs influence the way the media covers presidents?
    
  
  
• Citizens
  
  • Why does Nelson suggest that contradictory is an appropriate word to describe public perceptions of presidents?
  • What do these following terms mean and how do they fit into his discussion:
    • philosphical congressionalists
    • operational presidentialists
    • emotional presidentialists
  
  
• Members of Congress
  
  • What does Nelson mean by constituency centeredness?
  • How does this characteristic effect Representatives' and Senators' perception of presidents?
  • How do the president's powers and standing with the public affect those perceptions?
  
  
• Bureaucrats
  
  • How does Nelson describe the responsiveness of civil servants in the executive branch to the president?  What explains this?