James W Ceaser's Books

Presidential Selection

Theory and Development

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Presidential Selection

Theory and Development

By: James W. Ceaser

Examining the development of the process of presidential selection from the founding of the republic to the present day, James Ceaser contends that many of the major purposes of the selection system as it was formerly understood have been ignored by current reformers and modern scholars. In an attempt to reverse this trend, Professor Ceaser discusses the theories of selection offered by leading American statesmen from the Founders and Thomas Jefferson to Martin Van Buren and Woodrow Wilson. From these theories he identifies a set of criteria for a sound selection system that he then uses to analyze and evaluate the recent changes in the selection process. Five normative functions of a presidential selection system comprise the author's criteria: it should minimize the harmful effects of ambitious contenders for the office, promote responsible executive leadership and power, help secure an able president, ensure a legitimate accession, and provide for an appropriate amount of choice and change. Professor Ceaser finds that the present system is characterized by weak parties and candidate-centered campaigns that lead to the problems of "image" politics and demagogic leadership appeals. He therefore argues for a more republican selection system in which political parties would be strengthened to serve as a restraining force on popular authority, public opinion, and individual aspirations for executive power.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

387

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691215901

ISBN 13

9780691215907

Nature and History in American Political Development

A Debate

By: James W CEASER,Jack N Rakove,Nancy L Rosenblum,Rogers M Smith,James W Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Nature and History in American Political Development

A Debate

By: James W CEASER,Jack N Rakove,Nancy L Rosenblum,Rogers M Smith,James W Ceaser

In this inaugural volume of the Alexis de Tocqueville Lectures, James Ceaser traces the way certain "foundational" ideas—including nature, history, and religion—have been understood and used over the course of American history. Ceaser treats these ideas as elements of political discourse that provide the ground for other political ideas, such as liberty or equality. Three critical commentators challenge Ceaser's arguments, and a spirited debate about large and enduring questions in American politics ensues.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

240

Publisher

Harvard University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0674029305

ISBN 13

9780674029309

Liberal Democracy and Political Science

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Liberal Democracy and Political Science

By: James W. Ceaser

Do political scientists in a liberal democracy bear a special responsibility that goes beyond their academic pursuits? Ceaser, a scholar of American political parties, argues that they do, and he challenges colleagues and students to reexamine what they do as political scientists. He observes that liberal democracy is a compound of two elements not easily wed: constitutionalism and republicanism. The role of political science is to perform the "superintendent" function of keeping these parts together.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

256

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0801845114

ISBN 13

9780801845116

Nature and History in American Political Development

A Debate

By: James W CEASER,Jack N Rakove,Nancy L Rosenblum,Rogers M Smith,James W Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Nature and History in American Political Development

A Debate

By: James W CEASER,Jack N Rakove,Nancy L Rosenblum,Rogers M Smith,James W Ceaser

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

240

Publisher

Harvard University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0674029305

ISBN 13

9780674029309

Presidential Selection

Theory and Development

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Presidential Selection

Theory and Development

By: James W. Ceaser

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

392

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691021880

ISBN 13

9780691021881

Epic Journey

The 2008 Elections and American Politics: Post 2010 Election Update

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Epic Journey

The 2008 Elections and American Politics: Post 2010 Election Update

By: James W. Ceaser

With President George W. Bush's approval ratings at record lows, the 2008 election was a contest that Democrats were predicted to win. And with Barack Obama's victory over John McCain, they did. But it was the highly unlikely journey to this likely destination that set this presidential election apart from others.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

250

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1442211458

ISBN 13

9781442211452

Reconstructing America

The Symbol of America in Modern Thought

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Reconstructing America

The Symbol of America in Modern Thought

By: James W. Ceaser

For many, America has become the primary symbol of all that is grotesque, deadening and oppressive. It is time, this text argues, to reaffirm confidence in American principles and remember that the US forged a system of liberal democratic government that has shaped the destiny of the modern world.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

308

Publisher

Yale University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0300084536

ISBN 13

9780300084535

Running Alone

Presidential Leadership from JFK to Bush II

By: James MacGregor Burns

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Running Alone

Presidential Leadership from JFK to Bush II

By: James MacGregor Burns

A disastrous war in Iraq, prisoner abuse, secret wiretaps -- the presidency of George W. Bush represents a crisis in American democracy. How did this happen? In Running Alone the revered political scientist and commentator James MacGregor Burns sets the imperial presidency of George W. Bush in the context of half a century of presidential politics. In his 1960 campaign, John F. Kennedy turned his back on the Democratic Party. He relied instead on his personal charisma and his family's vast wealth to win office. Once elected, he governed much as he had run: alone. He ignored the Democratic platform and instead sought counsel from a small group of hand-picked advisors, including his own brother. Kennedy fundamentally reshaped the role of President, and each of his successors has built on this model. American presidents have become increasingly isolated from the parties that brought them to power. Democratic presidents -- Johnson, Carter, and Clinton -- did tremendous damage to the Democratic Party by abandoning its core principles. Republican presidents have managed to lead more effectively in isolation, but have imperiled the nation in the process. Drawing on his own personal letters, interviews, and recollections of America's presidents, Burns charts the decline of genuine leadership in the Oval Office and offers a stirring vision of what the presidency can and should be. America deserves better leaders, and with unsurpassed knowledge of American history and politics, Burns shows us the way forward.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

289

Publisher

Basic Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0786748575

ISBN 13

9780786748570

The Enduring Reagan

By: Hugh Heclo,James W. Ceaser,George H. Nash,Stephen F. Knott,Paul G. Kengor,Andrew E. Busch,Stephen F. Hayward,Michael Barone

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Enduring Reagan

By: Hugh Heclo,James W. Ceaser,George H. Nash,Stephen F. Knott,Paul G. Kengor,Andrew E. Busch,Stephen F. Hayward,Michael Barone

Essays on the fortieth president and how he changed our world: “Hands down the finest compilation on Ronald Reagan that exists.” ―Robert G. Kaufman, author of In Defense of the Bush Doctrine A former Sunday school teacher and Hollywood actor, Ronald Reagan was an unlikely candidate for president, but his charisma, conviction, and leadership earned him the governorship of California—from which he launched his successful bid to become the fortieth president of the United States in 1980. Reagan’s political legacy continues to be the standard by which all conservatives are judged. In The Enduring Reagan, editor Charles W. Dunn brings together eight prominent scholars to examine the political career and legacy of Ronald Reagan. This anthology offers a bold reassessment of the Reagan years and the impact they had on the United States and the world. Includes contributions by Charles W. Dunn • Hugh Heclo • James W. Ceaser • George H. Nash • Stephen F. Knott • Paul G. Kengor • Andrew E. Busch • Steven F. Hayward • Michael Barone

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

174

Publisher

University Press of Kentucky

Published Date

ISBN 10

0813139260

ISBN 13

9780813139265

Constitutional Reform and Effective Government

By: James Sundquist

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Constitutional Reform and Effective Government

By: James Sundquist

For years the public has become increasingly disillusioned and cynical about its governmental institutions. In the face of alarming problems-most notably the $400 billion budget deficit-the government seems deadlocked, reduced to partisan posturing and bickering, with the president and Congress blaming each other for failure. And neither party can be held accountable. The public tendency is to blame individual leaders- or politicians as a class-but an insistent and growing number of experienced statesmen and political scientists believe that much of the difficulty can be traced to the governmental structure itself, designed in the eighteenth century and essentially unchanged since then. Is that inherited constitutional system adequate to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, or has the time come for fundamental change? Should we adopt an electoral system that encourages unified control of the presidency, the Senate and the House? Lengthen terms of office? Limit congressional terms? Abolish or modify the electoral college? Introduce a mechanism for calling special elections? Permit legislators to hold executive offices? Redistribute the balance of powers within the governmental system? In this revised edition of his highly acclaimed 1986 volume, James Sundquist reviews the origins and rationale of the constitutional structure and the current debate about whether reform is needed, then raises practical questions about what changes might work best if a consensus should emerge that the national government is too prone to stalemate to meet its responsibilities. Analyzing the main proposals advanced to adapt the Constitution to current conditions, he attempts to separate the workable ideas from the unworkable, the effective from the ineffective, the possibly feasible from the wholly infeasible, and finally arrives at a set of recommendations of his own.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

357

Publisher

Brookings Institution Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0815714300

ISBN 13

9780815714309

Upside Down and Inside Out

The 1992 Elections and American Politics

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew Busch

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Upside Down and Inside Out

The 1992 Elections and American Politics

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew Busch

...this volume is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on presidential elections. The authors' analysis of the 1992 contest is excellently done.'-CHOICE

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

212

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822630230

ISBN 13

9780822630234

Defying the Odds

The 2016 Elections and American Politics, Post 2018 Election Update

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew E. Busch,John J. Pitney

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Defying the Odds

The 2016 Elections and American Politics, Post 2018 Election Update

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew E. Busch,John J. Pitney

Now updated to include the 2018 midterms and previewing the coming 2020 election cycle, Defying the Odds provides the most comprehensive and authoritative account of the national election, including the presidential nomination process and election and congressional elections. With its keen insights into the issues and events that drove the 2016 election, Defying the Odds will be an invaluable resource for students and all political observers seeking to understand an election that was decades in the making and will continue to resonate throughout American politics for many years to come.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

249

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

153812923X

ISBN 13

9781538129234

Choosing Our Choices

Debating the Presidential Nominating Process

By: Robert E. DiClerico,James W. Davis

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Choosing Our Choices

Debating the Presidential Nominating Process

By: Robert E. DiClerico,James W. Davis

Probably no feature of the American political system has been subject to more sustained criticism over the last twenty-five years than the process by which we choose our presidents. In Choosing Our Choices, Robert E. DiClerico and James W. Davis debate the question: should we retain the present, primary centered 'direct democracy' method in selecting presidential candidates or should we return to a representative decision-making process to nominate our candidates? This timely and thought-provoking text offers the reader a concise yet comprehensive analysis of the presidential nominating system, arguments for and against the current system, and supplemental documents and essays for further reading. Choosing Our Choices will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars interested in exploring how Americans choose their leaders.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

168

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

0847694488

ISBN 13

9780847694488

The Perfect Tie

The True Story of the 2000 Presidential Election

By: Andrew E. Busch,James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Perfect Tie

The True Story of the 2000 Presidential Election

By: Andrew E. Busch,James W. Ceaser

In The Perfect Tie: The True Story of the 2000 Presidential Election, James W. Ceaser and Andrew E. Busch continue their study of national elections and their broader implications for American politics and society. With groundbreaking research of electoral politics and penetrating discussions of divided government, independent candidates, party platforms, realignment theory, the electoral college, and campaign strategies, Ceaser and Busch attempt to make sense of the 2000 presidential election. By separating myth from fact in presidential contests and by emphasizing the significance of frequently overlooked issues, such as foreign policy, this book is essential reading for courses in American Government, Campaigns and Elections, and Presidential Politics, as well as for any American interested in the real and lasting importance of the 2000 elections.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

298

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

0585379351

ISBN 13

9780585379357

Red Over Blue

The 2004 Elections and American Politics

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew Busch

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Red Over Blue

The 2004 Elections and American Politics

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew Busch

In their fourth book on American elections, Ceaser and Busch explore the campaign, election, and aftermath of the 2004 election season. While the book focuses on the heated presidential campaign, it also includes analyses of the house and senate races. More than just a summary, Red Over Blue examines the theories behind the events and uses studies and data to explain why the election went the way it did.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

218

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

0742534979

ISBN 13

9780742534971

Designing a Polity

America's Constitution in Theory and Practice

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Designing a Polity

America's Constitution in Theory and Practice

By: James W. Ceaser

In Designing a Polity, James W. Ceaser, one of our leading scholars of American political development, argues for the continuing central role of the Founding within the study of American government. Drawing on essays published over the past 10 years, extensively updated and revised to reflect current politics, Ceaser engages the Founding Fathers, particularly James Madison, emphasizes Alexis de Tocqueville as a model of political inquiry, critiques current and recent theorists such as Richard Rorty and Jacques Derrida, and explores the varieties of contemporary conservative thought. Designing a Polity offers a rich exploration of the core values of political sciences that will be of special interest to scholars and students of American political development, Constitutional thought, and contemporary political thought.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

230

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1442207922

ISBN 13

9781442207929

Designing a Polity

America's Constitution in Theory and Practice

By: James W. Ceaser

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Designing a Polity

America's Constitution in Theory and Practice

By: James W. Ceaser

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

230

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1442207922

ISBN 13

9781442207929

After Hope and Change

The 2012 Elections and American Politics, Post 2014 Election Update

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew E. Busch,John J. Pitney

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

After Hope and Change

The 2012 Elections and American Politics, Post 2014 Election Update

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew E. Busch,John J. Pitney

Now updated to include the 2014 midterms and previewing the coming 2016 election cycle, After Hope and Change provides the most comprehensive and authoritative account of the national election, including the presidential nomination process and election and congressional elections. As they have for every national election since 1992, James W. Ceaser and Andrew E. Busch, now joined by John J. Pitney Jr., combine a concise account of the elections as well as the broader context for American politics and institutions. Previous books in the series After Hope and Change: The 2012 Elections and American Politics Epic Journey: The 2008 Elections and American Politics Red Over Blue: The 2004 Elections and American Politics The Perfect Tie: The True Story of the 2000 Presidential Election Losing to Win: The 1996 Elections and American Politics Upside Down and Inside Out: The 1992 Elections and American Politics

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

219

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1442247460

ISBN 13

9781442247468

Losing to Win

The 1996 Elections and American Politics

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew Busch

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Losing to Win

The 1996 Elections and American Politics

By: James W. Ceaser,Andrew Busch

This book is essential reading for any American interested in the real and lasting consequences of the 1996 Presidential election.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

212

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

0847684067

ISBN 13

9780847684069

Government by the People

By: James MacGregor Burns

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Government by the People

By: James MacGregor Burns

The bestseller in the field for many years and the leader in creating the Politically Active Classroom (PAC), Government by the People brings students the keen insights of four prize-winning political scientists. Acclaimed for its superb writing style, pedagogical support, and comprehensive and balanced treatment of the American political system, this classic text has been thoroughly revised, redesigned, and updated to address the diverse and changing nature of American politics and to meet the needs of American Government classes today. A complete multimedia package Companion Website, Free CD-ROM, WebCT rounds out the learning package. Get into the PAC!

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

520

Published Date

ISBN 10

0130116572

ISBN 13

9780130116574

The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia

A Hamiltonian on the Supreme Court

By: James Brian Staab

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia

A Hamiltonian on the Supreme Court

By: James Brian Staab

The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia explores the similarities in political and constitutional thought between Justice Antonin Scalia and Alexander Hamilton and concludes that Hamilton holds the key to understanding Justice Scalia's past, present, and future decisions. From the fundamental premises of human nature to federalism, James B. Staab uses comparisons between the two men to find the underlying judicial philosophy that connects Justice Scalia's manifold decisions.

Average ratings

N/A