104 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
The Chicago Lawyers Chapter
September 15, 2011On September 15, 2011, the Chicago Lawyers Chapter hosted the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program featuring a panel discussion and a debate. The distinguished panelists discussed the themes of Confronting Terror: 9/11 and the Future of American National Security from a variety of viewpoints presented in the book. Confronting Terror was edited by Prof. John Yoo of the University of California Berkeley School of Law and leading initial architect of post-9/11 national security policy, and Dean Reuter, Vice President & Director of Practice Groups for the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy.
Following the panel discussion, Prof. John C. Yoo of the University of California Berkeley School of Law and Prof. Alberto R. Coll of DePaul University College of Law debated the President's war powers and issues relevant not only to the war against terrorists, but also to on-going US and NATO action in Libya and in future conflicts as they arise.
Back to top9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program
Topics: | Constitution • Federalism • Foreign Policy • International Law & Trade • Security & Privacy • International & National Security Law |
---|
On September 15, 2011, the Chicago Lawyers Chapter hosted the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program featuring this panel discussion. The distinguished panelists discussed the themes of Confronting Terror: 9/11 and the Future of American National Security from a variety of viewpoints presented in the book. Confronting Terror was edited by Prof. John Yoo of the University of California Berkeley School of Law and leading initial architect of post-9/11 national security policy, and Dean Reuter, Vice President & Director of Practice Groups for the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy.
Featuring:
9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program
Topics: | Constitution • Federalism • Foreign Policy • International Law & Trade • Security & Privacy • Separation of Powers • Federalism & Separation of Powers • International & National Security Law |
---|
While serving as Deputy Assistant Attorney General after 9/11, and in his many articles and books before and since then, John Yoo has articulated a sweeping theory of executive power, predicated on a notion of a "unitary executive," the writings of the framers of the Constitution, the wording of the Constitution itself, and the historic exercise of presidential war powers, to assert that the president's power to wage war is all but absolute, subject only to certain political checks, and that it includes the power to commit the country to lengthy battle without Congress' approval, detain combatants in secret captivity, interrogate them according to harsh terms, try and convict them, and eavesdrop on US citizen's communications without a warrant.
Professor Coll asserts that while the president's war powers are broad, they are not wholly exempt from the legislative actions of Congress, the reach of the Judiciary, the protections afforded by the Bill of Rights, or the reach of international law within its place in the U.S. constitutional framework. Both of these former officials appeal to an original understanding of the Constitution and the American Founding to make their case.
On September 15, 2011, the Chicago Lawyers Chapter hosted the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program featuring this debate. Professors Yoo and Coll debated these issues, which remain relevant not only to the war against terrorists, but to on-going US and NATO action in Libya and in future conflicts as they arise. This event was co-sponsored by The Jack Miller Center for Teaching American Founding Principles and History, the American Constitutional Society, The Constitution Project, DePaul University College of Law, and Ricochet.