In this episode, Richard Primus of the University of Michigan Law School and John Harrison of the University of Virginia School of Law join to discuss Primus’s new book The Oldest Constitutional Question: Enumeration and Federal Power, which challenges the prevailing understanding of congressional power and argues that Congress is not limited to its textually enumerated powers. Their conversation traces how this fundamental disagreement has shaped key moments in American constitutional history, from the Founding Era to the New Deal, and why the debate remains unsettled today.
Please follow We the People and Live at the National Constitution Center on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Today’s episode was produced by Bill Pollock and Griffin Richie. It was engineered by Bill Pollock. Research was provided by Gyuha Lee, Griffin Richie, Trey Sullivan and Tristan Worsham.
Participants
Richard Primus is the Theodore J. St. Antoine Collegiate Professor of Law at the University of Michigan. In addition to The Oldest Constitutional Question, he has written several important law review articles on the scope of congressional power.
John Harrison is the James Madison Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law. He is the author of important law review articles on a range of topics, including the Reconstruction amendments and congressional power.
Jeffrey Rosen is the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization devoted to educating the public about the U.S. Constitution. Rosen is also professor of law at The George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.
Additional Resources
- Richard Primus, The Oldest Constitutional Question: Enumeration and Federal Power (2025)
- Richard Primus, “’The Essential Characteristic’: Enumerated Powers and the Bank of the United States,” Michigan Law Review (2018)
- John Harrison, “Enumerated Federal Power and the Necessary and Proper Clause (reviewingThe Origins of the Necessary and Proper Clause by Gary Lawson, Geoffrey P. Miller, Robert G. Natelson, Guy I. Seidman),” The University of Chicago Law Review (2011)
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr.
- Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate.
- Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen.
- Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube.
- Support our important work.
