NYU Law Forum—All the President’s Power: What’s Left of Checks and Balances?

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With a series of recent decisions, the US Supreme Court has invested the president and executive branch with a level of power and autonomy unprecedented in American history.  From the scope of immunity granted in Trump v. United States to a collection of rulings—some final, some provisional—on the president’s right to remove heads of independent agencies, shutter entire operations, decline to disburse congressionally approved funds, and more, one cannot help asking: Is the notion of checks and balances—so long a foundational premise of Con Law and civics classes—effectively a dead letter? Are there any meaningful constraints left on the ability of a president to do as he pleases?  At this Forum, a panel of experts on presidential power will attempt to provide answers.

This program is co-hosted by the Reiss Center on Law and Security.

• Bob Bauer, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Senior Fellow, Reiss Center on Law and Security, NYU Law; White House Counsel, 2009–11
• Michael W. McConnell, Visiting Professor of Law, NYU Law; Professor and Director of Constitutional Law Center, Stanford Law School; Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2002–09
• Gillian Metzger, Professor, Columbia Law School; Acting Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, US Department of Justice, 2023–24
• Trevor Morrison, Professor, Dean Emeritus, and Faculty Co-Director, Reiss Center on Law and Security, NYU Law; Associate White House Counsel, 2009