 
Law School Sponsors Symposium on Congressional Power |
The U.S. Constitution gives Congress substantial power regarding a variety of subjects including budget, foreign policy and war. In recent years, some scholars and congressmen have complained that Congress fails to assert its powers. A Saint Louis University School of Law symposium "Congress: Does it Abdicate its Power?" recently explored the extent to which Congress relinquishes its power and why it does so. Is Congress equipped to assert the powers the framers gave it? What reforms are in order?
The symposium, held Friday, Oct. 22, was held in the Kniep Courtroom of the Saint Louis University School of Law, 3700 Lindell Blvd. Highlights included presentations by Louis Fisher of the Congressional Research Service, former U.S. Representative Jim Cooper and former Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton.
The symposium grew out of Fisher's presentation on the topic at last year's School of Law symposium regarding the state of the U.S. presidency 25 years after Watergate, said Saint Louis University law professor Joel K. Goldstein, who coordinated the symposium.
"The topic was so stimulating, we decided it would be good to take that one presentation and extend it to a full day of discussion," Goldstein said. "It should be particularly compelling as weÕve invited individuals who have been in Congress to talk about Congress."
Other symposium participants included: former Sen. Alan Dixon of Illinois; Neal Devins of College of William & Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law; former Congresswoman Joan Kelly Horn; Professors Douglas Williams and Dennis Tuchler of Saint Louis University School of Law; Professors Ronald Levin and Merton Bernstein of Washington University School of Law; and Brannen P. Denning of Southern Illinois University School of Law.
The Saint Louis University Public Law Review hosted the symposium and will publish the substance of the panel discussions in a symposium issue. In that same issue, articles submitted by members of the academic community on the topic of congressional powers will be published.
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