ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a myriad of actions used to influence executive and judicial actors in formulating civil rights policy. It examines several major forms of administrative actions. Ronald Reagan's appointments to the Civil Rights Commission and George Bush's to the Department of Justice constitute case studies of these presidents' assertiveness in administrative actions. The representativeness of their judicial nominations and other legal manoeuvres are also important policy actions presidents take. Reagan's actions were more administrative than legislative, with their foundation in his administration's conservative ideology. Bush's administrative actions in civil rights were fewer than Reagan's on a yearly basis and on an absolute basis since he served only a single term in office. The chapter examines executive orders quantitatively by issue area. The Pendleton nomination to the Civil Rights Commission perpetuated conflict with Congress over the agency. The Lucas case also shows the Senate's power to approve presidential nominations. Reagan's and Bush's judicial appointments were ideologically conservative on civil rights.
