Constitutional Conflicts between Congresss and the President

Nearly three decades after its initial publication, Louis Fisher's durable classic remains at the head of its class-a book that Congressional Quarterly called "as close to being indispensable as anything published in this field." This newly revised and updated fifth edition emphatically reinforces that sterling reputation.





Fisher dissects the crucial constitutional disputes between the executive and legislative branches of government from the Constitutional Convention through President Clinton's impeachment battles to the recent controversies over President Bush's conduct as commander in chief. He ventures beyond traditional discussions of Supreme Court decisions to examine the day-to-day working relationships between the president and Congress.





By analyzing a mixture of judicial pronouncements, executive acts, and legislative debates, Fisher pinpoints the critical areas of legislative-executive tension: appointment powers, investigatory powers, legislative and executive vetoes, the budgetary process, and war powers. He then examines these areas of tension within a concrete political and historical context.





To scholars, this book offers a comprehensive examination of the institutions and issues of public law. For practitioners, general readers, and students of American government, it demonstrates how constitutional issues shape and define current events.





"Presents a set of issues, themes, questions, and arguments that will continue to be of fundamental interest to constitutional scholars in particular and political scientists in general."-George C. Edwards III, author of Presidential Leadership





"An extremely worthwhile book, adaptable to a variety of courses."-Jeffrey K. Tulis, author of The Rhetorical Presidency







New material in this edition:




* Post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq


* Military tribunals and NSA eavesdropping


* Kosovo war in 1999


* Impeachment of President Clinton


* Termination of ABM treaty


* Controversies over appointments and removals


* Disputes over executive orders and proclamations


* Presidential signing statements


* Developments with item veto and pocket veto


* Public access to intelligence budgets


* FBI search warrant of congressman's office


* State secrets privilege


* Presidential and vice-presidential immunity