Above the Law?: The Evolution of Presidential Emergency Powers
Author:   Chris Edelson
Publisher:   Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc
ISBN:  

9798896166870


Pages:   230
Publication Date:   20 February 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Our Price $243.23 Quantity:  
Add to Cart

Share |

Above the Law?: The Evolution of Presidential Emergency Powers


Overview

""Exceptionally timely and impressive.... Edelson has amassed a wealth of historical evidence and examples about how presidents use (and misuse) emergency powers."" —Nancy Kassop, State University of New York at New Paltz ""If you want to understand both legitimate and illegitimate uses of emergency powers, this is the book to read."" —James Pfiffner, George Mason University In the current US political climate, the appropriate use of and constraints on emergency presidential powers have become the topic of much heated debate. How did the framers of the Constitution intend to balance emergency powers with limits? How has this balance eroded over time? And why is Donald Trump's presidency so concerning for the future of liberal democracy in the United States? Addressing these questions and more, Chris Edelson traces the evolution of emergency executive authority in the US government from the eighteenth century to the second Trump administration.

Full Product Details

Author:   Chris Edelson
Publisher:   Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc
Imprint:   Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc
ISBN:  

9798896166870


Pages:   230
Publication Date:   20 February 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

The Evolution of Emergency Presidential Power. What Does the Constitution Tell Us? Statutory Emergency Presidential Power: The Failure to Set Meaningful Limits. The Role of Congress: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. From Theodore Roosevelt to Harry S. Truman. Congressional Deference Becomes the Norm. The Post 9/11 Presidency: Claiming Power Without Limit. Donald Trump's First Term: Overreach, Underreach, and Constitutional Failure. Donald Trump's Second Term: Toward American Monarchy. A Perfect Storm.

Reviews

Author Information

Chris Edelson is assistant professor of government at American University.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

MRG 26 2

 

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
 Shopping cart
Mailing List

 

Sign up now