Dr. Elizabeth Saunders, Associate Professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, spoke to a full house at the Bush Library on Wednesday evening, January 30, 2019. Saunders’ lecture, based on her article “The Unconstrained Presidency,” published in the October/November 2018 issue of Foreign Affairs, discussed the gradual erosion of the limitations on US executive power in the decades since World War II and how that relatively unchecked power has become more visible in the actions of recent administrations. Saunders also talked about the significance of the 2018 midterm elections and resulting changes in Congress and identified some legislative measures that could help restrain the growing footprint of presidential power. However, Saunders noted, even the increasing public pushback against the current administration serves as a warning sign that the traditional constraint system remains broken, and any significant solution to the problem will be difficult to secure in today’s polarized political climate. The Bryan-College Station Eagle article on the event can be found here.
Event Details
The Unconstrained Presidency
Elizabeth Saunders
Associate Professor, School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
5:30 p.m.
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Conference Center
The Albritton Center for Grand Strategy presents a lecture by Dr. Elizabeth N. Saunders on her article published in Foreign Affairs titled “The Unconstrained Presidency,” discussing the recent trend of increasing presidential power in the United States.
Dr. Elizabeth N. Saunders is an Associate Professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
