Through primary source and other documents and insightful narratives, this work discusses appointments, prerogative governance, and the role of time and regimes in the complex scheme of checks and balances.

Featured topics include:

- major theories of constitutional interpretation and their application to the exercise of executive power

- the political dynamics in the relationship between the three branches of federal government

- the evolution of executive authority and the struggle over the legislative veto

- precedents for treaty-making and executive agreements with foreign governments

- executive and legislative relations and powers in times of war and national emergency, particularly after 9/11

- the president's authority as commander-in-chief

- historical controversies of executive privilege, and censure and impeachment

- executive authority to issue pardons

- appendix with comparative data about conventional and Court periodization