Lawfare Daily: Bob Bauer and Liza Goitein on Emergency Powers Reform
Sep 20, 2024
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Bob Bauer, a distinguished legal scholar from NYU, and Liza Goitein, an expert in liberty and national security at the Brennan Center, dive into the complexities of emergency powers. They analyze the National Emergencies Act and its implications for presidential authority, especially amid recent bipartisan reform efforts. The discussion critiques the historical failures of checks on executive power, advocating for clearer rules to safeguard democracy. Their insights shed light on the pressing need for accountability and the evolving landscape of emergency declarations.
The podcast discusses how the National Emergencies Act has led to significant executive power assertions, often exploited for political rather than actual crises.
Bipartisan reform efforts aim to enhance congressional oversight and require approval for emergency declarations to address the balance of power between branches.
Concerns about the Insurrection Act highlight a need for clearer criteria for military deployment to prevent misuse and protect civil liberties.
Deep dives
The Expansion of Executive Power
The National Emergencies Act (NEA) has allowed U.S. presidents to assert significant executive power in times of declared national emergencies. However, the absence of a clear definition of what constitutes an emergency has led to the potential for abuse. Historically, many emergency declarations have been used not just for actual crises but for advancing political agendas, as seen with recent administrations using emergency powers to bypass congressional approval for policy initiatives. This has raised serious concerns about the balance of power between Congress and the presidency, as Congress has largely acquiesced to executive actions across administrations.
Current National Emergencies and Their Impact
There are currently 43 national emergencies in effect, with the majority linked to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which allows the president to impose economic sanctions. Many of these emergency powers have been used to address issues that do not meet the typical parameters of an unforeseen emergency. For example, some declarations date back several decades, such as those regarding sanctioned nations. The challenge lies in the fact that while some powers are necessary for immediate national security, others could be seen as excessive or lacking in oversight.
Legislative Efforts for Reform
Recent discussions in Congress have highlighted efforts to reform the NEA, particularly through the proposed Article I Act, which aims to require congressional approval for national emergency declarations. This proposal, enjoying bipartisan support, addresses the need for greater legislative involvement to ensure accountability in the use of emergency powers. Similarly, the Senate is also considering the Republic Act, which includes similar reforms to enhance checks on the executive branch. These legislative efforts signal a recognition of the need to recalibrate the balance of power and maintain democratic integrity.
Challenges with Emergency Declarations
Despite the calls for reform, challenges remain due to the political climate and the difficulty of achieving a veto-proof majority in Congress. In practice, the existing frameworks for terminating emergency declarations—such as the requirement for Congress to pass a law—have proven ineffective, especially given the necessity for supermajority support. Moreover, historical instances of executive overreach during emergency declarations have left Congress hesitant to assert its authority, often resulting in prolonged or indefinite declarations of emergencies. This has highlighted the urgent necessity for reform to restore congressional oversight of emergency powers.
The Insurrection Act and Its Implications
The Insurrection Act represents another area of concern, offering the president broad powers to deploy federal troops in domestic situations without clear guidelines. The law's vague language could enable the use of military force in non-crisis contexts, posing risks for civil liberties. Reform proposals aim to introduce specific criteria for deployment and require congressional approval, similar to reforms suggested for the NEA. Overall, addressing the potential for misuse of this act is crucial to prevent abuse of power and to uphold the principles of democracy.
Bob Bauer, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at New York University School of Law, and Liza Goitein, Senior Director of Liberty & National Security at the Brennan Center, join Kevin Frazier, Assistant Professor at St. Thomas University College of Law and a Tarbell Fellow at Lawfare, to review the emergency powers afforded to the president under the National Emergency Act, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Insurrection Act. The trio also inspect ongoing bipartisan efforts to reform emergency powers.