Where Is Presidential Power? Measuring Presidential Discretion Using Experts

Abstract Presidents' unilateral sway over policy is of global concern to scholars, practitioners and the general public. While pending actions provoke media speculation about how much authority presidents have change without legislatures, scholarship has yet systematically measure presidential discretion across areas public policy. This study surveys an interdisciplinary panel using discrete choice experiments estimate latent level that US in fifty-four areas. Consistent with models delegation unilateralism, these measures confirm more foreign affairs, promotes executive action. approach presents opportunity examine differences perceptions power, can be applied beyond case.