In a political climate where the machinery of the federal government has grown increasingly complex, The Power to Legislate offers a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the extent and limitations of legislative power granted by the U. S. Constitution. By examining the historical development of the Constitution as well as judicial precedent set by the Supreme Court, Richard E. Levy develops a systematic account of federal legislative power that is ideal for anyone interested in constitutional history and political science.

Levy focuses his investigation on three distinct, yet related, aspects of federal legislative power: the necessary and proper clause of Article I, the delegation of powers to the various federal institutions, and the deliberative powers of Congress to conduct investigations and interrogations. The Power to Legislate synthesizes these three crucial ideas into a fresh perspective that sheds light on today's controversies.

Richard E. Levy is Professor of Law at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he joined the faculty in 1985. Since joining the faculty at the University of Kansas, Levy has published extensively on issues relating to constitutional law and government institutions and was a Postlewaite Research Fellow from 1996-1999.