ICYMI: Shall we have a king?
King George III. Painting by Allan Ramsay, 1765. In January 1787, America’s top diplomat, John Jay, asked George Washington, its leading citizen, “Shall we have a King?” Neither… Read More
Podcast: Presidential powers, and why Robert Jackson matters
Louis Fisher. Source: University of Kansas Press. In this LegBranch.org podcast, Kevin Kosar of the American Enterprise Institute speaks with Dr. Louis Fisher about his new article on presidential… Read More
Can Congress reclaim authority it has handed over to the president? It’s trying.
Source: Defense.gov Over the past 18 months, members of Congress have introduced resolutions and bills aimed at reasserting congressional authority. On Dec. 12, 2018, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mike Lee… Read More
Review: A Case for the American People: The United States v. Donald J. Trump by Norman Eisen
This book offers important insights into the unsuccessful effort of House Democrats to impeach and remove Donald Trump. Norman Eisen previously served as the White House special counsel for ethics… Read More
Congress and foreign affairs: Reasserting the power of the first branch
Article I of the U.S. Constitution assigns Congress many significant authorities over foreign policy. The legislature may “regulate commerce with foreign nations,” and “define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed… Read More
ICYMI: Improving congressional oversight
The power to investigate is key to Congress’ ability to inform the public, legislate wisely, and carry out other duties assigned to it by the Constitution. The Supreme Court described… Read More
Direct election and the foreign policy president
Illustration by J.S. Pugh, 1903. Illustration shows seven men as Roman senators labeled “T.C. Tillman, Lodge, Stewart, Morgan, Quay, [and] Hoar.” George F. Hoar is speaking to the others while… Read More
Oversight gone wrong
Congressional investigations of the executive branch are frequently dominated by partisanship and ideology. Even-keeled and methodical analysis is better. Turning serious inquiries into tendentious exercises weakens oversight. Recent revelations about… Read More
Three concrete steps to improve the relationship between Capitol Hill and Foggy Bottom
Source: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. “Cold.” “Toxic.” “Dysfunctional.” These are the words that come to mind when thinking of the relationship between Congress and the State Department, on… Read More
COVID-19 puts a damper on the presidential foreign policy show
TOPSHOT – US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un following a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 27,… Read More