Photo Caption: Central’s Stephanie Wise, assistant professor of political science, published an article in Social Science Quarterly.

Pella, IA (03/04/2025) — Stephanie Wise, assistant professor of political science at Central College, has published an article in "Social Science Quarterly" examining the effects of presidential legitimacy rhetoric.

Titled "The Public Consequences of Presidential Legitimacy Rhetoric," the study tests three key theories: that such rhetoric strongly influences co-partisans, is largely ineffective or backfires due to its radicalism. Using data from an original survey experiment, Wise extends prior research on the Supreme Court to assess public support for Congress and democratic norms.

Findings suggest presidential rhetoric on Congress is mostly ineffective but may trigger a mild backlash, particularly among independents. The study also highlights a distinction between democratic norm attitudes and views on congressional legitimacy, challenging claims about a president's ability to reshape institutional legitimacy through rhetoric alone.

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Our students learn collaboratively with supportive educators who share a commitment to intellectual engagement, personal growth, career readiness and civic involvement. Founded in 1853 and shaped by its Christian heritage, the college of 1,100 students participates in NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the American Rivers Conference. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.