Christopher S. Kelley – författare

During his first term in office, Pres. George W. Bush made reference to the "unitary executive" ninety-five times, as part of signing statements, proclamations, and executive orders.  Pres. Barack Obama''s actions continue to make issues of executive power as timely as ever.Unitary executive theory stems from interpretation of the constitutional assertion that the president is vested with the "executive power" of the United States. In this groundbreaking collection of studies, eleven presidential scholars examine for the first time the origins, development, use, and future of this theory.The Unitary Executive and the Modern Presidency examines how the unitary executive theory became a recognized constitutional theory of presidential authority, how it has evolved, how it has been employed by presidents of both parties, and how its use has affected and been affected by U.S. politics. This book also examines the constitutional, political, and even psychological impact of the last thirty years of turmoil in the executive branch and the ways that controversy has altered both the exercise and the public’s view of presidential power.

Draws attention to how American presidents have creatively interpreted the Constitution to expand the power of the executive branch.Over the last thirty years, a great deal of attention has been paid to executive branch interpretation of the Constitution. Executing the Constitution focuses on the creative interpretation of constitutional powers to either expand executive branch policymaking or to shield its prerogatives. In analyzing and explaining the bold unilateral decisions presidents have made during and since the Vietnam War, this book draws attention to some dramatic changes in the executive branch that explain the development and use of such concepts as presidential signing statements, administrative clearance, unilateral foreign policy declarations, and executive privilege.