2026 Constitutional Law Symposium (Drake Constitutional Law Center)

Drake University - Law School

"The Roberts Court, Executive Power, and the American Experiment in Self-Government"

Drake University Law School

Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Constitutional Law Symposium. We have closed ticket sales for the event, please contact Maddie France with any questions you may have (maddie.france@drake.edu)

The annual Constitutional Law Symposium invites scholars, judges, and lawyers from across the country to discuss a timely constitutional issue. The proceedings are published in the Drake Law Review."The Roberts Court, Executive Power, and the American Experiment in Self-Government" Saturday, April 11, 2026 8:30 AM - 1 PM James Albert Classroom, Cartwright Hall<ul><li>8:30 am - Check-in and continental breakfast</li><li>9:00 am - Opening remarks</li></ul>Precis: Presidents of both parties have pushed the boundaries of executive power. Absent war or economic calamity, however, no president has exercised executive power as vigorously as has President Trump particularly during his second administration. An aggressive reading of what is known as the unitary executive theory underpins many of President Trump’s actions. The Roberts Court consequently has grappled with momentous issues of separation of powers. The panelists to the 2026 Drake Constitutional Law Symposium were asked to discuss the unitary executive theory, separation of powers, and what developments in executive power might portend for the American experiment in self-government.Speakers:<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2Ftf7t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730166267%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3e8UY2mz7qOGI3HUJmlrfbeACWsW8USsnDG6%2BiS8hqQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" title="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2Ftf7t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730166267%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3e8UY2mz7qOGI3HUJmlrfbeACWsW8USsnDG6%2BiS8hqQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Andrea Scoseria Katz</a>, Associate Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2F977t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730197439%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BwueOga6l543bhupJNdytl2iZsFekOYuCN%2FxnY3mZmM%3D&amp;reserved=0" title="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2F977t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730197439%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BwueOga6l543bhupJNdytl2iZsFekOYuCN%2FxnY3mZmM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Aaron L. Nielson</a>, Charles I. Francis Professorship in Law, Professor at University of Texas at Austin School of Law and former Texas Attorney General<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2Fp08t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730224891%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=PKGU5qdUJWrc8pe03lB4LHR067ZDlKfuNHnctq2tUsQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" title="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2Fp08t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730224891%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=PKGU5qdUJWrc8pe03lB4LHR067ZDlKfuNHnctq2tUsQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Victoria Nourse</a>, Ralph V. Whitworth Professor in Law, Georgetown Law School, Executive Director of its Center on Congressional Studies and Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2F5s9t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730252675%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=gnpBTDSuDdH3RGzgm8d8S1onO0i0oKxsBMNfQZninU4%3D&amp;reserved=0" title="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fx27wcy%2F9jt6v2r%2F5s9t65b&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdawn.brown%40drake.edu%7Cf9906b96f3d54749146508de22cddaff%7C6f028129009c4b33b633bbfc58bbd960%7C0%7C0%7C638986464730252675%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=gnpBTDSuDdH3RGzgm8d8S1onO0i0oKxsBMNfQZninU4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Peter M. Shane</a>, Professor Emeritus of The Ohio State Moritz College of Law, Distinguished Scholar in Residence, New York University School of Law Con Law Symposium is PENDING Iowa CLE credit.

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