23: Presidency Research

Randall E. Adkins, University of Nebraska at Omaha, radkins@unomaha.edu

As a new president takes office in January of 2009, the theme of the next APSA conference, "Politics in Motion: Change and Complexity in the Contemporary Era," offers an excellent opportunity to reflect on the pursuit of knowledge in the study of the presidency. The institution has certainly been marked by change in the contemporary era, but some might argue that more change is needed. The presidency has also been marked by a growth in the complexity of relationships with actors inside and outside of the executive branch in recent years. Our themes of change and complexity suggest that the pursuit of knowledge is in constant motion. We are challenged by the era in which we live to bring our knowledge to bear to discover both the causes and consequences of the growing changes and increased complexity, and to encourage greater policy relevance.

The Presidency Research Group encourages panels and papers that offer new empirical or theoretical insights into the study of the presidency. We also wish to encourage proposals that address interdisciplinary approaches to the study of executive leadership at the international, regional, state, or local level.

The Presidency Research Group is especially interested in timely panel and paper topics such as interpreting the 2008 presidential election, assessing the Bush presidency, or the transition of the new administration to office. We welcome proposals on timeless topics such as: the constitutional and legal foundations of the presidency, the evolution of presidential power, the president's relationship with Congress, management of the executive branch, the president's relationship with the Courts, the president's leadership of the political parties, the president's relationship with the news media, the president's leadership of public opinion, the president's role in domestic and foreign policymaking, and the presidency in comparison to executive leadership of other nations. Special consideration will be given to proposals that choose to integrate the conference themes of change and complexity.