Executive Power & the Louisiana Purchase

When Napoleon Bonaparte offered to sell 827,000 square miles of land to the United States, it was an offer too good for the young country to refuse. For President Thomas Jefferson, however, the Louisiana Purchase prompted an internal constitutional crisis. Does executive action not explicitly authorized by the Constitution require an amendment? Was the Louisiana Purchase an example of the president’s power to make treaties? Three scholars explore the limits of executive authority surrounding the largest real estate deal in American history. ******* As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speakers. Featuring: - Prof. John Yoo, UC Berkeley School of Law - Prof. Rob McDonald, US Military Academy at West Point - Prof. Sanford Levinson, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law ******* Related Links & Differing Views: Mises Institute: “The Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson’s Constitutional Crisis that Risked Dissolving the Union” Lehrman Institute: “The Louisiana Purchase” #constitutional Boston University Law Review: “Jefferson and Executive Power” American Bar Association Journal: “The Constitutional Controversy Over the Louisiana Purchase” National Constitution Center: “The Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson’s constitutional gamble” Credits: - Director: Noah Bradon - Producers: Noah Bradon & Tim Hedberg - Executive Producers: Samantha Schroeder, Ann Hartley, Matt Wood, & Daniel T. Richards - Writers: Noah Bradon, Samantha Schroeder, & Ann Hartley - Editors: Adrienne Martin & Colin J. Mason - Director of Photography: Jacob Schwartz - First Assistant Director: Colin J. Mason - Gaffer: Anthony Pilon - Line Producer: Ben Wade - Animator: Adrienne Martin In association with Motivo