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Full-Text Articles in Law
Restoring Balance To The Debate Over Executive Privilege: A Response To Berger, Mark J. Rozell
Restoring Balance To The Debate Over Executive Privilege: A Response To Berger, Mark J. Rozell
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
In this Essay, Professor Rozell responds to Raoul Berger 's Executive Privilege: A Constitutional Myth. Berger's work claims that executive privilege does not have a constitutional basis. Addressing Berger's textual, historical, and structural arguments, Professor Rozell argues contrarily that executive privilege is a legitimate power when exercised properly and that to view executive privilege as a constitutional absolute is improper. As such, Professor Rozell recognizes the limits of executive privilege and suggests that it may be subject to a balancing test when weighed against demands for information. He argues that presidents should not use this power to protect information that …
Executive Privilege And Interbranch Comity After Clinton, Jonathan L. Entin
Executive Privilege And Interbranch Comity After Clinton, Jonathan L. Entin
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
Although both constitutional theory and practical considerations offer powerful reasons for Congress and the President to prefer negotiation rather than litigation of separation of powers disputes, the Clinton Administration litigated and lost several important cases dealing with presidential power. Some commentators have suggested that these rulings will undermine the presidency for years after Clinton leaves office. Professor Entin assesses some factors, notably the phenomenon of divided government, that might have contributed to the difficulty of reaching interbranch accommodations in recent years and suggests that the long-term implications of the adverse judicial rulings may be less severe than the pessimists fear.
Introduction To The Symposium: Executive Privilege And The Clinton Presidency, Iain R. Mcphie
Introduction To The Symposium: Executive Privilege And The Clinton Presidency, Iain R. Mcphie
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
No abstract provided.
Invoking Executive Privilege: Navigating Ticklish Political Waters, Louis Fisher
Invoking Executive Privilege: Navigating Ticklish Political Waters, Louis Fisher
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
In this Article, Louis Fisher acknowledges the constitutional legitimacy of executive privilege, but he argues that legal and political limits render the scope of the privilege narrower than what is commonly believed In support of his argument, he points to early precedents set during the Washington Administration and to congressional leverage over the executive branch. Though he recognizes the executive branch's interest in ensuring that information is disclosed through authorized channels and its concern about disclosures of information that may embarrass the administration or one of its agency's, he asserts that there is no legal or constitutionaI justification for concealing …
Executive Privilege: The Clinton Administration In The Courts, Neil Kinkopf
Executive Privilege: The Clinton Administration In The Courts, Neil Kinkopf
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
Exploring the role of the judicial branch of the federal government in Clinton-era executive privilege claims, Neil Kinkopf suggests that courts have misunderstood executive privilege. Professor Kinkopf points out that federal courts have given different treatment to executive privilege claims asserted in judicial and congressional arenas, protecting the Judiciary from encroachment by the executive branch, while avoiding becoming involved in controversies among the political branches. He argues that the judicial confusion about executive privilege stems from the fact that courts have interpreted cases such as Clinton v. Jones to be about the separation of powers between the executive and judicial …
Restoring The Balance Of Power: Impeachment And The Twenty-Second Amendment, James Randolph Peck
Restoring The Balance Of Power: Impeachment And The Twenty-Second Amendment, James Randolph Peck
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
The recent proceedings against President William Jefferson Clinton brought Congress' impeachment power into the national spotlight. In the public debate on when it is appropriate for Congress to exercise this power, it is important to consider that the Framers gave this power to the legislature principally as a tool to maintain a balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. Examining the debates at the Constitutional Convention, this Note details how the Framers deliberately sought to balance the President's term in office and eligibility for re-election with the Congress' impeachment power in order to prevent …
The Public And Private Lives Of Presidents, Neal Kumar Katyal
The Public And Private Lives Of Presidents, Neal Kumar Katyal
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
Focusing on a frequent theme in the executive privilege arguments advanced by the Clinton Administration, Neal Kumar Katyal explores the distinction drawn between the public and private lives of the President, particularly in the Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky cases. He argues that the Administration's difficulties in asserting executive privilege claims following these cases demonstrate that the public/private distinction is not entirely valid. He asserts that, unlike members of Congress who have time when they are not in session, the President is unique in that he is office twenty-four hours a day. He argues that this special constitutional status puts …