All the President’s Power: What’s Left of Checks and Balances?
October 22 @ 1:10 pm - 2:25 pm
All The President’s Power: What’s Left of Checks and Balances?
Event Details:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
1:10–2:25 p.m.
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.
Co-hosted by the Reiss Center on Law and Security
Speakers
- Bob Bauer: Professor of Practice and Distinguished Senior Fellow, Reiss Center on Law and Security, NYU Law; White House Counsel, 2009–11
- 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
- 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
- Trevor Morrison (Moderator): Professor, Dean Emeritus, and Faculty Co-Director, Reiss Center on Law and Security, NYU Law; Associate White House Counsel, 2009