Emergency powers: Presidents unleashed?

On February 20th, the Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to regulate tariffs. Trump responded by pointing to several other powers that might allow him -- temporarily or permanently -- to get to the same end. He declared nine other emergencies in his first year in office, giving him the ability to move funds and/or use force to implement one priority or another.
To better understand what presidents can and cannot do when declaring an emergency, join us for a conversation examining the history and evolution of this practice. Panelists will explore how presidents have invoked extraordinary authority during moments of national crisis—from early challenges such as the Whiskey Rebellion through the upheavals of the Civil War, the Great Depression, and mid-20th century conflicts over executive authority such as the Steel Seizure Case.
The discussion will give particular focus to the period after Watergate and the reforms Congress enacted to place guardrails on the use of emergency powers, as well as the impact of the September 11 attacks on the expansion of emergency powers.
This event is part of the Miller Center’s "Presidency Project: Toward a Responsible and Effective Executive," combining academic rigor with practical recommendations to improve American democracy.

You can attend this event in-person at the Miller Center in Charlottesville or as a webinar.

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