Can the President Declare a Trade ‘Emergency’? On the Supreme Court’s Tariff Case
Richard Epstein delves into one of the most consequential Constitutional questions of our time: can the president unilaterally impose tariffs under emergency powers? With the Supreme Court set to review Donald Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPA) to levy trade barriers, Epstein explains what the Constitution actually says about tariffs, how far Congress can delegate its authority, and why the doctrine of the “unitary executive” could reshape the balance between the legislative and executive branches. From Article I to Justice Taft’s 1928 tariff case, the discussion traces the fine line between lawful delegation and unconstitutional abdication—and what’s at stake for trade, separation of powers, and presidential authority.
Constitutionalism
Amicus Brief: Hon. William P. Barr and Hon. Michael B. Mukasey in Support of Petitioners
Former AGs Barr and Mukasey Cite Civitas in a SCOTUS Brief
Rational Judicial Review: Constitutions as Power-sharing Agreements, Secession, and the Problem of Dred Scott
Judicial review and originalism serve as valuable commitment mechanisms to enforce future compliance with a political bargain.
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Supreme Court showdown exposes shaky case against birthright citizenship
Supreme Court will hear challenges to Trump's order ending birthright citizenship, testing the 14th Amendment's guarantee for babies born in America.
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Just Follow the Law
By definition, no one can lawfully disobey the law. The problem, though, is that it can be difficult to know what the law requires, even for legal experts.
Obamacare Should No Longer be SCOTUScare
Whatever one makes of the Supreme Court’s “why bother” attitude to its prior statutory rulings, Republican leaders in Congress should accept the invitation to provide a legal fix to Obamacare.
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