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Abstract

This article provides a brief overview of the qualities of American presidential leadership as well as two rubrics that social studies students can utilize to analyze candidates for the presidency in the past, present, and future. Presidents often exhibit certain characteristics or attributes that make them effective leaders. These abilities include an effective communication style, organizational skill, a vision of public policy, cognitive style, political skill, and emotional intelligence.

Given these characteristics, it is important for social studies students to categorize and assess leadership qualities of presidential candidates in order to reach an objective and informed decision. This article provides a two-part rubric that students can adopt. The first rubric includes basic

information or criteria such as education, military experience, political experience, and others while the second advanced rubric includes the different presidential qualities as criteria. These rubrics provide a systematic process that students can utilize for assessing and categorizing presidential leaders.

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The American Presidency: Categorizing and Assessing Leadership Qualities

Abstract

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References