Presidential Selection: Theory and Development

By James W. Ceaser

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691076022
• ISBN13: 9780691076027
• Release Date: June 1979
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Sometimes Oil and Water Does Mix

Mixing common sense with social science is much like mixing oil and water. But sometimes it does work. This is one such case. Presidential Selection by James Ceaser is probably the best theoretical treatment of the development of why the American presidential selection process works the way it does. Ceaser understands that politicians act rationally, given the rules of the game. It is therefore essential to understand the rules. But is is even more important to understand why there are some rules and not others. Much of modern political science is good at explaining the formal and informal rules of presidential elections. This particular work is unique in explaining why we have the particular rules we do and how changing them has or can affect regime principles. Ceaser's touchstone in all of this is The Federalist, but it is read with a critical eye with regard both strengths and weaknesses. Overall the strengths outweigh the weaknesses because the founders' form of liberal democracy trumps any modern alternatives.