Does the Constitution limit the power of the federal government during emergencies just as it does under usual circumstances? Professor Keith Whittington of Princeton University explains that the president does not have broad authority over local communities, but both the executive and the legislative branch have roles to play in national emergencies.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Professor Keith Whittington:
https://scholar.princeton.edu/kewhitt/home

Related links and Differing Views:

Pandemics & First Principles: Local v. Federal Response to Pandemics
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/videos/pandemics-first-principles-local-v-federal-response-to-pandemics-policybrief

Federalism, COVID-19, and The Administrative State
https://fedsoc.org/events/federalism-covid-19-and-the-administrative-state

The Government Has a Lot More Emergency Powers Than Libertarians Like, But It Still Can’t Control Everything
https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/government-has-lot-more-emergency-powers-libertarians-it-still-cant-control

A Constitutional Guide to Emergency Powers
https://www.heritage.org/the-constitution/commentary/constitutional-guide-emergency-powers

Emergency Executive Powers: Not Needed Indefinitely
https://www.mercatus.org/publications/covid-19-policy-brief-series/emergency-executive-powers-not-needed-indefinitely

Trump or governors: Who’s the boss
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/03/25/trump-or-governors-whos-the-boss/