We the People

Executive Authority: Presidential Power From America’s Founding to Today

Listen Later

Gillian Metzger of Columbia Law School and Saikrishna Prakash of the University of Virginia School of Law join Jeffrey Rosen to examine the founders’ vision for the presidency, review how presidential power has changed over time, and debate the constitutional questions—including the unitary executive theory—that have shaped the modern presidency.


Resources

  • Federalist No. 70, New York Packet (March 18, 1788)
  • Myers v. United States (1926)
  • Trump v. United States (2024)
  • Saikrishna Prakash, The Living Presidency: An Originalist Argument Against Its Ever-Expanding Powers, (2020)
  • Saikrishna Prakash, Imperial from the Beginning: The Constitution of the Original Executive, (2015)
  • Gillian Metzger, “Disqualification, Immunity, and the Presidency,” Harvard Law Review, Vol. 138 (April 1, 2025)


    • 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.
    • ⁠⁠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

      1,081 ratings

      More shows like We the People

      View all
      Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

      Political Gabfest

      8,465 Listeners

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker

      4,102 Listeners

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

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

      3,545 Listeners

      Conversations with Bill Kristol by Bill Kristol

      Conversations with Bill Kristol

      2,027 Listeners

      Live at the National Constitution Center by National Constitution Center

      Live at the National Constitution Center

      145 Listeners

      The Lawfare Podcast by The Lawfare Institute

      The Lawfare Podcast

      6,300 Listeners

      Civics 101 by NHPR

      Civics 101

      2,552 Listeners

      Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

      Radio Atlantic

      2,363 Listeners

      Stay Tuned with Preet by Preet Bharara

      Stay Tuned with Preet

      32,411 Listeners

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

      7,266 Listeners

      Strict Scrutiny by Strict Scrutiny

      Strict Scrutiny

      5,868 Listeners

      Advisory Opinions by The Dispatch

      Advisory Opinions

      3,946 Listeners

      The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

      The Ezra Klein Show

      16,495 Listeners

      Divided Argument by Will Baude, Dan Epps

      Divided Argument

      744 Listeners

      The Opinions by The New York Times Opinion

      The Opinions

      613 Listeners