American Presidential Power and the War on Terror: Does the Constitution Matter?

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Introduction: The Era of a War on Terror

   • Justin DePlato

   Pages 1-12

3. The Founders’ Reasons and Justifications for Presidential Emergency Power

   • Justin DePlato

   Pages 13-40

4. President G. W. Bush and the Hyper-unitary Approach to Waging the War on Terror

   • Justin DePlato

   Pages 41-84

5. President Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner and the War on Terror

   • Justin DePlato

   Pages 85-89

6. Conclusion: The Republic Is in Danger

   • Justin DePlato

   Pages 90-94

7. Back Matter

   Pages 95-107

   PDF

This book examines the use of presidential power during the War on Terror. Justin DePlato joins the debate on whether the Constitution matters in determining how each branch of the federal government should use its power to combat the War on Terror. The actions and words of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are examined. DePlato's findings support the theory that executives use their own prerogative in determining what emergency powers are and how to use them. According to DePlato, the Presidents argue that their powers are implied in Article II of the Constitution, not expressed. This conclusion renders the Constitution meaningless in times of crisis. The author reveals that Presidents are becoming increasingly cavalier and that the nation should consider adopting an amendment to the Constitution to proffer expressed executive emergency powers.

• US Presidency
• War on Terror
• Presidential Power
• Constitution
• Law
• constitution
• law
• terrorism
• war

• Robert Morris University, USA

  Justin DePlato

Justin DePlato is Assistant Professor of political science at Robert Morris University, USA. He earned a PhD in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo, USA and has published several books in the area of US Presidency and the Congress.

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