On Wednesday, May 15th, the House Judiciary Committee is holding a long-overdue hearing on executive privilege and congressional oversight. As a political scientist who specializes in the powers of the president and Congress, I encourage Chairman Nadler and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take this topic very seriously. Congress needs to … Continue reading Dear Chairman Nadler: It’s Time to Fight Executive Overreach
Aren't political parties bad for democracy? Shouldn't smart voters stay away from parties altogether? No and no. Lots of smart people have pointed out the problems that political parties can create. James Madison, for example, worried that factions would cause officials to decide important questions based on narrow interests rather than the public good. George Washington (whose cabinet … Continue reading Why We Need Political Parties