As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama criticized the George W. Bush management for its unrestrained activities in issues of nationwide protection. but President Obama has now not fulfilled candidate Obama's promise to revive the guideline of legislation and make a fresh holiday along with his predecessor.

In Power with no Constraint Chris Edelson deals a radical, large comparability of the Bush and Obama administrations' nationwide safeguard rules, arguing that either have asserted extra govt authority than past presidents. He examines once-secret Justice division memos during which President Bush's officers claimed for the administrative department plenary unilateral authority to take advantage of army strength in accordance with threats of terrorism, in addition to the facility to put aside legislation made by way of Congress, even legal legislation prohibiting torture and warrantless surveillance. He recognizes that President Obama and his officers haven't claimed the authority to put aside felony legislation, counting on softer rhetoric and toned-down criminal arguments to develop their guidelines. yet, in key areas—military motion, surveillance, and nation secrets—they have easily chanced on new how one can assert strength with out significant constitutional or statutory constraints.

Edelson contends that this legacy of the 2 instantly post-9/11 presidencies increases an important questions for destiny presidents, Congress, the courts, and americans. the place is the political will to revive a stability of powers between branches of presidency and adherence to the rule of thumb of legislation? What are the bounds of authority concerning presidential nationwide safety strength? Have nationwide safeguard issues created an enduring shift to unconstrained presidential power?