Author Archive

Stanley M. Brand

Distinguished Fellow in Law and Government, Pennsylvania State University

Management

Why Congress Can’t Curb Trump’s Power to Commute Stone’s Sentence and Pardon Others

A former lawyer for the US House of Representatives explains the constitutional and historical limits barring Congress from checking the president's clemency powers.

Oversight

Analysis: Congress May Not Like It When Trump Fires An Inspector General – But It Can’t Do Anything To Stop Him

President Trump isn't the first president to get rid of inspectors general. He is the first to assert that inspectors general investigations into his administration's actions are unconstitutional.

Oversight

Historic Power Struggle between Trump and Congress to Be Reviewed by Supreme Court

Three cases coming up for argument in the Supreme Court have the potential to redefine the power of Congress to hold the president accountable.