The president’s job requirements aren’t laid out very well in the Constitution. The position is mostly an empty shell filled up with 44 presidencies worth of precedents.
Jonathan Bernstein
Jonathan Bernstein is a political scientist who writes about American politics, especially the presidency, Congress, parties, and elections. Follow @jbplainblog
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
King Obama the Magical
The president may not be a heroic monarch, but the image works to his advantage.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
How to Stop the Next IRS Scandal
The problem is not that the federal tax agency used political criteria to scrutinize groups. It’s that it shouldn’t be vetting political organizations at all.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
It’s All about the Primaries
It can matter quite a bit exactly which Democrats or which Republicans are in office.Â
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Bad Flight Plan
In restoring funding for air-traffic control, Democrats lost an opportunity to cudgel Republicans. Here’s what they should do next time
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
What Does “Balance the Budget” Even Mean?
Politicians use the phrase to mean a number of different things, taking advantage of the public’s ignorance on budget issues.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Should 16-Year-Olds Vote?
A Washington suburb’s proposal to let teenagers vote is a great idea.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
The Boehner Rule
The House Speaker abandons the Hastert Rule—when circumstances require it—to use his own ingenious legislative scheme.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Show Me the Policy!
If the GOP wants to solve its identity crisis, it needs a healthy internal debate about what substantive issues it supports.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
What We’ll Be Talking about in 2016
What issues will define the next Democratic presidential primary?
