Inventing the American PresidencyThomas E. Cronin Now widely regarded as the best available guide to the study of the Founding, the first edition of Interpreting the Founding provided summaries and analyses of the leading interpretive frameworks that have guided the study of the Founding since the publication of Charles Beard's An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution in 1913. For this new edition, Gibson has revised and updated his study, including his comprehensive bibliography, and also added a new concluding chapter on the "Unionist Paradigm" or "Federalist Interpretation" of the Constitution. As in the original work, Gibson argues in the new edition that scholarship on the Founding is no longer steered by a single dominant approach or even by a set of questions that control its direction. He features insightful extended discussions of pioneering works by leading scholars of the Founding—including Louis Hartz, Bernard Bailyn, Gordon Wood, and Garry Wills—that best exemplify different schools of interpretation. He focuses on six approaches that have dominated the modern study of the Founding-Progressive, Lockean/liberal, Republican, Scottish Enlightenment, multicultural, and multiple traditions approaches—before concluding with the Unionist or Federalist paradigm. For each approach, Gibson traces its fundamental assumptions, revealing deeper ideological and methodological differences between schools of thought that, on the surface, seem to differ only about the interpretation of historical facts. While previous accounts have treated the study of the Founding as the sequential replacement of one paradigm by another, Gibson argues that all of these interpretations survive as alternative and still viable approaches. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and showing how each has simultaneously illuminated and masked core truths about the American Founding, he renders a balanced account of the continuing and very vigorous debate over the origins and foundations of the American republic. Brimming with intellectual vigor and a based on both a wide and deep reading in the voluminous literature on the subject, Gibson's new edition is sure to reinforce this remarkable book's reputation while winning new converts to his argument. |
Contents
Relevant Sections of and Amendments to the Constitution | 1 |
Qualifications for President | 13 |
Designing the Electoral College | 33 |
Presidential Term Tenure and Reeligibility | 61 |
Presidential Impeachment | 89 |
The Presidents WarMaking Power | 119 |
The Presidents Veto Power | 154 |
The Presidents Executive Power | 180 |
The Presidents Prerogative Power | 236 |
Precedent Setter | 259 |
Alexander Hamilton and the Presidency | 282 |
John Adams and the Presidency | 304 |
Thomas Jefferson and the Presidency | 326 |
James Madison and the Presidency | 347 |
Alexander Hamiltons Federalist Essays on the Executive | 363 |
389 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Adams's administration Alexander Hamilton amendment American Antifederalists appointment argued argument army Article Articles of Confederation bill branch British cabinet Carolina Charles Pinckney chief executive clause commander in chief Committee of Detail Congress congressional considered Constitutional Convention Corwin council debate decision declare delegates Edmund Randolph election electoral college established executive power exercise Farrand favor federal Federalist number Federalist Papers foreign framers George Washington Gouverneur Morris governor grant House of Representatives Ibid impeachment independent interest issue James Madison Jefferson John Adams judges Justice king legislative legislature limited Lincoln Locke magistrate Mason military monarch motion Nixon pardon power Parliament person Pinckney political prerogative president president's power presidential principle proposed qualifications ratifying conventions reason reelection reeligibility removal Republic republican requirement responsibility role Senate separation of powers South Carolina Supreme Court term tion treaties United University Press vested veto veto power Virginia Virginia Plan vols vote Wilson York