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IN THIS ESSAY, THE AUTHOR REFLECTS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM HEADED BY NANCY KASSEBAUM, LLOYD CUTLER AND C. DOUGLAS DILLON. HE CONCURS WITH THEIR CONCLUSION THAT OUR POLITICAL PARTIES NEED STRENGTHENING, AND HE EXAMINES THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE THE POLITICAL SYSTEM MORE EFFECTIVE.

THIS PAPER EXPLORES THE RECENT HISTORY OF PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION TO INCLUDE A PRESIDENTIAL ITEM VETO. THESE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LARGELY AS DEFICIT REDUCTION TOOLS. THE AUTHORS CONSIDER THE MERITS OF THE ARGUMENTS, AND BUILD A COMPUTER SIMULATION MODEL, THE ITEM VETO AMENDMENT MODEL (IVA), TO COMPARE BUDGET CUTTING UNDER THE PROPOSED ITEM VETO WITH CURRENT PROVISIONS FOR RECISSIONS. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE ITEM VETO IS MOST LIKELY TO BE USED WHEN BOTH CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL CONCERN FOR THE DEFICIT IS HIGH. IF ONE HOUSE DEVELOPS A LOW CONCERN FOR THE DEFICIT, THE USE OF THE ITEM VETO DECLINES DRAMATICALLY TO ZERO.

The Reagan presidency has been both eulogised and reviled. Supporters have claimed that Ronald Reagan not only regenerated American power and restored American prestige but changed the direction of domestic policy in a way which marked the end of a twenty year period of expanding government. This book explores the Reagan policy style and substance. It considers the initial aspirations of the two Reagan administrations, examines the constraints with which they had to contend, and assesses the legacy of achievement and failure