The Presidency Unbound?

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, how has presidential power evolved in the United States since the Constitution was enacted? The appropriate use of and limits on emergency presidential power have become the topic of much heated debate in our current political context. But how did the framers of the Constitution intend to balance emergency powers with limits, and how and why has this balance eroded over time? Join a conversation with Professor Chris Edelson on executive authority, the rise of authoritarianism and what’s at stake for American democracy.

Register for in-person attendance. Can't attend in-person? All are welcome. Lunch provided for in-person attendees.

Professor Chris Edelson is a constitutional scholar and a lecturer in the political science department at UMass Amherst. His work focuses on the problem of constitutional failure, the question of balancing presidential power against limits on power, and the need to hold authoritarians accountable for abuses of power. Before UMass Amherst, Edelson was previously Assistant Professor in the department of government at American University for 16 years. He is the author of three books on presidential power, including his most recent book, Above the Law? The Evolution of Emergency Presidential Power.