By Kaya Weerasuriya — “I've got a pen, and I've got a phone.” President Barack Obama used this phrase as a metonymy for two actions he considered to be most effective for enacting change—the “pen” symbolizing his presidential capability to issue executive action, and the “phone” signifying his ability to mobilize public support during times of congressional deadlock. He used these dual actions across wide-ranging issues during his two terms, pertaining to economic, social, and...| Princeton Legal Journal
By Nathaniel Marks — The unlawful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador and the subsequent failure of the Trump Administration to return him (despite being ordered by a court to do so) seems to many to be the final straw for the constitutional order: the President is actively ignoring his responsibility to uphold the law. This situation with court orders is new; what is not new is the Executive’s selective nonenforcement of the law. For as long as the President has been charg...| Princeton Legal Journal
By Arah Cho — In Federalist No. 70, Founding Father Alexander Hamilton championed the concept of “energy in the executive,” arguing that a strong, decisive president was essential for effective governance. More than 200 years later, President Donald J. Trump’s leadership appears to embody this principle through his aggressive approach to decision-making. Within just the first 100 days of his second term, Trump has unilaterally declared a record-setting eight national emergencies and i...| Princeton Legal Journal