logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2017
57m 39s

War powers and national security

NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER
About this episode
Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, raise armies, and regulate forces. Yet Article II names the President the Commander-in-Chief and vests him with the executive power. Who should be in charge of the nation’s security? What does the Constitution say about the relationship between Congress and the President in wartime? With ... Show More
Up next
Apr 23
Revolutionary State Constitutions
In this episode, scholars Nicholas Cole and Robert Williams examine how American constitutional democracy is rooted in the crafting of Revolutionary-era state constitutions. Beginning in May 1776, Americans gave independence meaning by writing state constitutions, experimenting w ... Show More
1h 1m
Apr 16
Women and the American Revolution
Acclaimed historians Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita of American History at Cornell University, and Rosemarie Zagarri, distinguished university professor of history at George Mason University, examine how women influenced the political, social, and intel ... Show More
57m 2s
Apr 9
Emily Sneff on When the Declaration of Independence Was News
In this episode, historian Emily Sneff discusses her new book, When the Declaration of Independence Was News, which focuses on the nation’s founding document at the moment of its creation in 1776, before anyone knew what the legacy of the Declaration would be or if the United Sta ... Show More
51m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
A Constitutional Crisis
<p>As President Trump issues executive orders that encroach on the powers of Congress — and in some cases fly in the face of established law — a debate has begun about whether he’s merely testing the boundaries of his power or triggering a full-blown constitutional crisis.</p><p> ... Show More
26m 10s
Jul 2024
The Rise of Presidential Power
<p>Right from independence, a question has hovered over the government of the United States. How much power should the President have? Not too much, lest they become a monarch. But not too little, they are elected to do a job and that job must be done.</p><br><p>In this episode o ... Show More
36m 28s
Nov 2023
Rep. Andy Biggs, AZ (R) : Hey, Mike Johnson, It’s the Constitution You’re Trashing!
<p>Imagine a world where Fourth Amendment protections are compromised. Well, the expiration of Section 702 of the FISA Act has the potential to make it a reality. With Congressman Andy Biggs by our side, we tackle this pressing issue and challenge the slippery slope of suspending ... Show More
21m 26s
Feb 2025
He Was America’s Highest-Ranking Military Officer. Then Came the War on D.E.I.
<p>During his decades-long path to become America’s highest-ranking military officer, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. won the crucial support of President Trump.</p><p>That all changed when Mr. Brown publicly talked about a subject that is taboo in Mr. Trump’s government.</p><p>Helene ... Show More
29m 48s
Nov 2025
Are We Ready? | AI, Espionage, and Influence, With Jessica Brandt
<p>Jessica Brandt, senior fellow for technology and national security at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping cyber operations, influence campaigns, and intelligence gathering, and what those changes mean for U.S. nation ... Show More
28m 58s
Sep 2025
When the National Guard Comes to Town
<p>One month after sending the National Guard into Washington, D.C. saying they would fight crime there, President Trump is so pleased with the results that he is discussing how to put federal troops onto the streets of cities across the country — from Chicago to New Orleans. It’ ... Show More
36m 48s
Oct 2025
Republicans Demand Answers Over Alleged FBI Spying Scandal
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the January 6th Capitol riot allegedly had a focus on the communications of eight Republican senators, including Senator Bill Hagerty, who has revealed how the FBI accessed their private messages. United States Senator Bill Hagerty ... Show More
33m 46s
Jun 2025
Will The U.S. Get Involved In Military Action With Iran?
As Israel and Iran continue to launch aerial assaults against each other, there are growing questions as to whether the U.S. will get involved in the offensive, too. President Trump said he'd make a decision within the next two weeks. Then, a look at the spending package currentl ... Show More
22m 36s
Mar 2025
Trump and the judges: a constitutional test
Deportations by the Trump administration are testing the system set up by America's founders where three equal branches of government check each other’s power.  Our legal journalists examine the growing standoff between the executive and judicial branches to understand where we g ... Show More
23m 9s