President on Capitol Hill: A Theory of Institutional Influence

Presidents can influence Congress to enact their agenda by taking positions on issues and converting them into presidential ones, which leads members of Congress to consider the presidents views when deciding how to vote. Cohen's research shows that presidents have more influence than previously thought and can affect the substance of public policy.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 11 June 2019
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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The conventional view in the study of presidential-congressional relations suggests that presidents have limited influence over Congress. This view is often attributed to structural factors such as party control, which largely determine the fate of a president's legislative agenda. However, in his book "The President on Capitol Hill," Jeffrey E. Cohen challenges this notion and presents a new theory of presidential influence.

Cohen argues that existing research has underestimated the power of the president to sway Congress. He demonstrates that by taking a position on an issue, the president can convert it from a nonpresidential to a presidential one, which leads members of Congress to consider the president's views when deciding how to vote. Cohen further argues that presidential position-taking converts factors that normally affect roll call voting, such as party, public opinion, and policy type, into resources that presidents can leverage to influence the vote.

To test his theory, Cohen analyzes all House roll calls from 1877 to 2012. He finds that presidents have more influence than previously thought, and through their influence, they can affect the substance of public policy. Cohen's research suggests that presidents can use their position-taking to influence the outcome of roll calls, even when faced with opposition from their party or the public.

One of the key findings of "The President on Capitol Hill" is that presidents can influence Congress by using their veto power. Cohen argues that by threatening to veto legislation, presidents can persuade members of Congress to change their votes or withdraw the legislation altogether. This power of the veto is often overlooked in the study of presidential-congressional relations, but Cohen demonstrates that it can be a powerful tool for presidents to shape public policy.

In conclusion, "The President on Capitol Hill" offers a new perspective on presidential-congressional relations, showing that presidents are not simply captives of larger political forces but rather major players in the legislative process. Cohen's research challenges the conventional view and demonstrates that presidents can use their position-taking, veto power, and other tools to influence Congress and shape public policy. This book is a valuable contribution to the study of political science and should be read by anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of the American political system.

\n Weight: 422g\n
Dimension: 230 x 153 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231189156\n \n