Civitas Outlook
Topic
Constitutionalism
Published on
December 19, 2025
Contributors
Richard Epstein
Charles C.W. Cooke
Episode
The Libertarian

Who Decides When America Goes to War?

About this episode

Who actually decides when the United States goes to war—Congress or the president? Richard Epstein traces the Constitution’s original division of war powers from 1789 to the present and explains how practice, politics, and modern warfare have steadily shifted authority toward the presidency. Along the way, they explore declarations of war that never happen, authorizations that never expire, emergency actions that become routine, and why Congress so often prefers not to decide at all. Professor Epstein argues that America now operates under two constitutions—the one we wrote and the one we live with.

All other episodes on

The Libertarian

Trump and Executive Power

Episode #2 of the The Libertarian with Richard Epstein, hosted by Charles C.W. Cooke.

EP2

Israel vs. New York Times

Episode 3 of The Libertarian with Richard Epstein and Charles C.W. Cooke.

EP3
Aug 7, 2025

Surf’s Up: Roman Law and Beach Houses

Episode 4 of The Libertarian with Richard Epstein and Charles C.W. Cooke

EP4
Aug 21, 2025

Posse Comitatus: Trump, Troops, and the Limits of Presidential Power

Episode 5 of The Libertarian with Richard Epstein and Charles C.W. Cooke

EP5

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

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

Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Sep 22, 2025
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.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Sep 15, 2025
Amicus Brief: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish

Civitas Research Fellow Michael Toth's work was cited in a Supreme Court brief.‍

Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Sep 11, 2025
Epstein & Yoo: Amicus Brief in Supreme Court of Maryland

Civitas Senior Research Fellows Richard Epstein and John Yoo, alongside the Mountain States Legal Foundation, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of Maryland.

Richard Epstein, John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Jul 24, 2025
Birthright Citizenship Has a Long Historical Precedent

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Apr 2, 2036
State Courts Can’t Run Foreign Policy

Suncor is also a golden opportunity for the justices to stop local officials from interfering with an industry critical to foreign and national-security policy.

John Yoo, Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Feb 24, 2026
Supreme Court tariff ruling should end complaints that justices favor Trump

John Yoo writes on the Supreme Court’s decision on President Trump’s tariff case.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Feb 20, 2026
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.

Constitutionalism
Dec 10, 2025

The Libertarian

The inimitable Richard Epstein offers his unique perspective on national developments in public policy and the law.

View all
** items

Law Talk

Welcome to Law Talk with Richard Epstein and John Yoo. Our show is hosted by Charles C. W. Cooke.

View all
** items

Laying down the law on birthright citizenship

Constitutionalism
Apr 26, 2026
1:05

Supreme Court interested in 'original' meaning of 14th Amendment

Constitutionalism
Apr 1, 2026
1:05

UChicago Prof. Richard Epstein Weighs in on the Supreme Court’s Decision Regarding Trump’s Tariffs

Constitutionalism
Feb 23, 2026
1:05

Federal law under the Constitution is always 'supreme'

Constitutionalism
Jan 27, 2026
1:05

Legal expert explains why Supreme Court is holding back on Trump tariffs

Constitutionalism
Jan 21, 2026
1:05
No items found.
Dishonor and the Civil Service

Those who serve in the government “should have, metaphorically speaking, their resignation letters in pocket in case they are ever confronted with a question of conscience.”

Aaron L. Nielson
Constitutionalism
Mar 30, 2026
The Government Schools Persist in Mandating Gender Ideology

The volume and pace of federal litigation on these policies indicate there is no softening of the collective mind on transgenderism within the education industrial complex.

Sarah Parshall Perry
Constitutionalism
Mar 26, 2026
The Temptation of the Inferior “Imperial Judiciary”

This status quo is not sustainable. Either the President will retain his role as the chief of the executive branch, or he will not. Either the Supreme Court will retain its position as the Supreme Court, or it will not.

Josh Blackman
Constitutionalism
Mar 17, 2026
Major Questions Doctrine and Its Bipartisan History

Administrative law is important because it provides the framework for so many significant fights about policy. Unfortunately, it is also often misunderstood.

Aaron L. Nielson
Constitutionalism
Mar 16, 2026
No items found.
No items found.
Join the newsletter

Get the Civitas Outlook daily digest, plus new research and events.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.