Presidential Leadership and the Separation of Powers

15 Pages Posted: 24 Sep 2015

See all articles by Eric A. Posner

Eric A. Posner

University of Chicago - Law School

Date Written: September 17, 2015

Abstract

The presidents who routinely are judged the greatest leaders are also the most heavily criticized by legal scholars. The reason is that the greatest presidents succeeded by overcoming the barriers erected by Madison’s system of separation of powers, but the legal mind sees such actions as breaches of constitutional norms that presidents are supposed to uphold. With the erosion of Madisonian checks and balances, what stops presidents from abusing their powers? The answer lies in the complex nature of presidential leadership. The president is simultaneously leader of the country, a party, and the executive branch. The conflicts between these leadership roles put heavy constraints on his power.

Suggested Citation

Posner, Eric A., Presidential Leadership and the Separation of Powers (September 17, 2015). U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 545, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2664409 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2664409

Eric A. Posner (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Law School ( email )

1111 E. 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-702-0425 (Phone)
773-702-0730 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/posner-e/

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
429
Abstract Views
2,296
Rank
124,700
PlumX Metrics