We the People

Can President Trump Invoke the Insurrection Act Over the Objections of State Governors?

Listen Later

In this episode, William Banks of Syracuse University College of Law and Laura Dickinson of the George Washington Law School join to discuss the history and meaning of the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the president to deploy the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement purposes. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  

 

Resources

  • Illinois v. Trump (N.D. Illinois, 2025) 
  • United States v. Cruikshank (1875) 
  • Martin v. Mott (1827) 
  • William Banks and Stephen Dycus, Soldiers on the Home Front: The Domestic Role of the American Military (2016) 
  • William Banks, “Providing ‘Supplemental Security’ – The Insurrection Act and the Military Role in Responding to Domestic Crises,” Journal of National Security Law & Policy (12/15/2009) 
  • Laura Dickinson, “Protecting the U.S. National Security State from a Rogue President,” Harvard National Security Journal (1/9/2025) 
  • Laura Dickinson, “How the Insurrection Act (Properly Understood) Limits Domestic Deployments of the U.S. Military,” Lawfare (9/12/2024) 

    •  

    In our new podcast, Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness, Jeffrey Rosen explores the founders’ lives with the historians who know them best. Plus, filmmaker Ken Burns shares his daily practice of self-reflection. 

    Listen to episodes of Pursuit on ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ and ⁠Spotify⁠. 


    Stay Connected and Learn More

    • Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr ⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • Explore the⁠⁠⁠ ⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate
    • Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen
    • Join us for an upcoming⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • Support our important work: 

      • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠⁠

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      We the PeopleBy National Constitution Center
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      1,076 ratings

      More shows like We the People

      View all
      The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

      The New Yorker Radio Hour

      6,828 Listeners

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker

      4,056 Listeners

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

      3,531 Listeners

      U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments by Oyez

      U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments

      676 Listeners

      Conversations with Bill Kristol by Bill Kristol

      Conversations with Bill Kristol

      2,008 Listeners

      Live at the National Constitution Center by National Constitution Center

      Live at the National Constitution Center

      149 Listeners

      The Lawfare Podcast by The Lawfare Institute

      The Lawfare Podcast

      6,302 Listeners

      Stay Tuned with Preet by Preet Bharara

      Stay Tuned with Preet

      32,334 Listeners

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

      7,226 Listeners

      Strict Scrutiny by Crooked Media

      Strict Scrutiny

      5,822 Listeners

      Advisory Opinions by The Dispatch

      Advisory Opinions

      3,899 Listeners

      The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

      The Ezra Klein Show

      15,955 Listeners

      Amarica's Constitution by Akhil Reed Amar

      Amarica's Constitution

      397 Listeners

      Divided Argument by Will Baude, Dan Epps

      Divided Argument

      744 Listeners

      Supreme Court Oral Arguments by scotusstats.com

      Supreme Court Oral Arguments

      36 Listeners