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The Commander in Chief and the Courts
Author(s) -
LOBEL JULES
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
presidential studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1741-5705
pISSN - 0360-4918
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-5705.2007.02584.x
Subject(s) - constitution , inherent powers , law , political science , power (physics) , separation of powers , administration (probate law) , law of war , executive power , national security , law and economics , sociology , politics , international law , physics , quantum mechanics
The Bush administration claims to have sweeping, inherent, and unchecked war powers to conduct its war against terror. These claims are inconsistent with the text of the Constitution, the Framers' intent, and the practice of the early leaders of the Republic. Judicial decisions in the first few decades after the Constitution's adoption affirmed the Framers' narrow view of executive war powers. This article will address the extent of the president's inherent powers to prosecute a war, whether Congress can regulate and limit the president's commander‐in‐chief power, and the role of the courts in deciding whether the president has overstepped his power in conducting warfare.