Congress and the Courts

As part of a conference on President George W. Bush’s second term, Professor Rudalevige discussed White House legislative liaison and the agenda and style of congressional leadership, predicting which issues will come to the fore and how each side will manage the relationship. Professor Steigerwalt described how presidents use both judicial appointments and executive branch appointments to shape long-term policy, while also addressing the impediments presidents face. Professor Johnson, the author of, Who Governs the Courts?: The Politics of Policymaking for the Federal Courts, talked about the president’s judicial appointments and the powers he can and can’t use. After their presentations the panelists answered audience members' questions. close