Presidential Authority, Emergency Powers, and Military Operations in a Changing Political Landscape: From Foreign Wars to the Southern Border
1.0 Ethics Credits
The Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania held a timely symposium examining urgent threats to the rule of law and national security in today’s volatile political and technological climate. This public event, held at the Union League of Philadelphia on April 11, 2025, convened leading voices from CERL’s Affiliated Faculty, Executive Board, and Advisory Council to explore how democratic governance is being reshaped by partisan attacks, foreign interference, and accelerating technological change.
This panel delved into the Trump administration’s invocation of a national emergency at the southern border and its decision to deploy U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in support of Customs and Border Protection—an unprecedented move with lasting implications for civil-military relations.
Panelists examined how such deployments may signal the weakening of traditional restrictions, including the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which has long limited the military’s role in domestic law enforcement. The discussion focused on the dangers of blurring the lines between civilian and military authority, the politicization of military leadership, and the resilience of professional military ethics in maintaining the rule of law.
Speakers:
- John Altenburg Jr.
- Kevin Govern
- Alberto Mora
- Stephen N. Xenakis
Moderator:
- Marcos Gonzalez Soler
To obtain credit for the course, evaluations must be completed and submitted after watching the video. If you do not receive your CLE Attendance Certificate after submitting your evaluation, please contact [email protected], thank you.
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Presidential Authority, Emergency Powers, and Military Operations in a Changing Political Landscape: From Foreign Wars to the Southern Border
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