The presidency was neither designed nor expected to act in concert with the American people; the framers intended Congress to represent the popular will. Contemporary presidents are elected on the promise of being the direct representative of the people. There is an implicit deal between the president and voters: election to office in return for responsiveness to voter concerns. As The Policy Partnership shows, this relationship has been crumbling for some time. Presidents frequently break campaign promises and make unpopular decisions, while the public rarely bands together to demand...

First published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.