This course provides a modern political science perspective on the American presidency. Our objective is to cut through common narratives provided by pundits, politicians, journalists, and the average voter to understand when presidents are more (or less) likely to influence public policy. Put simply, when (and how) do presidents exercise power? Answers to this question are both complicated and difficult to evaluate. We begin with a brief normative and historical perspective on the presidency: what presidential power ought to be, and how the presidency came to be what it is today. We then discuss the president’s interactions with Congress, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy; the president’s foreign policy and war powers, as well as mechanisms of public accountability (public opinion, elections, investigations and scandals). We will also use contemporary events during the Obama administration and the 2016 presidential election to apply the ideas from the readings. The course draws on wide variety of material—from political theory, to news articles, laws, court opinions, and quantitative analyses. It is designed for those interested in careers in social science, law, government, politics, or journalism— as well as anyone interested in American politics and the presidency, more generally.