On Constitution Day, Sept. 17, two eminent U.S. Constitutional scholars will discuss the challenges of maintaining effective presidential leadership while preventing abuse of power. Their conversation will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s College in Moraga in the Claeys Room of the Soda Center and will be available simultaneously on Zoom.

    Speakers will be: Vikram Amar, the Daniel J. Dykstra Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Davis Law School who is one of the most eminent and frequently cited authorities in constitutional law; and Dan Farber, the Sho Sato Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Edley Center on Law & Democracy at UC Berkeley Law School, who is the author of “Contested Ground: How to Understand the Limits on Presidential Power.”

    Recent public debates have renewed longstanding constitutional questions about the proper scope of executive power. The speakers will engage in a discussion about perennial questions, such as:

    How should we balance the need for effective leadership with the need to prevent abuse of power? Have we achieved that balance? And, What would the founders think about the powers of the modern presidency? 

    Professor Barbara McGraw, Director of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism and professor of Social Ethics, Law, and Public Life at Saint Mary’s College will moderate the discussion. Sponsors of the event are Saint Mary’s College, The Disney Forum, the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley, the League of Women Voters West Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Library and CCTV.

    Register on Zoom here: https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a848feabe14820029882727