In general, after you finish reading and studying this chapter, you should understand the following:

• the roots of the office of president of the United States and how the Framers created the executive for a new nation
• Article II and the constitutional powers of the presidency
• the development of presidential power in response to events, crises, personalities, and other influences
• the increasing personalization of the presidency and how success has come to depend on the officeholder's personality, popularity, and leadership style
• how the presidency managed to become the central focus of power and action in the United States
• the growth of the presidential establishment of advisors, assistants, and departments
• the role of the president in the legislative process and how presidential agenda setting has caused Congress to try to reassert their own powers in this area
• the role of public opinion on the American president as well as the affect the president has on public opinion
• the president's changing role and proposals for reforming the presidency
• citizen expectations of the president and how those expectations are making it more difficult to govern effectively

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