A woman, in a library, holding a book.

Moira Fiscus, an assistant professor and social sciences librarian with SIU Carbondale’s Morris Library, with a display featuring Constitution Day materials. The library is hosting a Sept. 17 panel discussion on presidential powers and the Constitution. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

September 11, 2026

SIU’s Constitution Day includes panel discussion on presidential powers

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A panel discussion on presidential powers under the U.S. Constitution highlights Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s observation of Constitution Day on Thursday, Sept. 17.

"The Evolution of Presidential Power under the Constitution" is from 1-2 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. The discussion is free and open to the public.

The panelists are:

  • Cindy Buys, professor of law, SIU Simmons Law School, who will also serve as moderator.
  • Stan Cox, associate professor of law, SIU Simmons Law School.
  • John Jackson, professor emeritus and visiting professor, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.
  • Kenneth Mulligan, associate professor, political science.

Highlights faculty expertise

This is the second year for the Constitution Day panel discussion. Moira Fiscus, an assistant professor and social sciences librarian with Morris Library, said the talk is an opportunity to highlight campus faculty on relevant issues both nationally and to SIU students.

“This is a special Constitution Day as it also falls during the 250th anniversary year of America,” Fiscus said. “We wanted to connect the panel discussion to something that spans, if not all of, then most of American history. That’s partly why we decided to discuss presidential power and authority — and because the topic has been in the news.

“This should be a fascinating discussion of past and current understanding of presidential power, and I hope it leaves attendees feeling like they can engage with the Constitution and want to learn more about it.”

The library will hand out free pocket-Constitutions donated by the Friends of Morris Library. The law school will post Constitution trivia questions on monitors in the law library and hand out free pocket copies of the Constitution as supplies last.

Constitution Day marks the anniversary of delegates to the Philadelphia Convention completing and signing the U.S. Constitution in 1787. All educational institutions that receive federal funding must annually deliver programs on the U.S. Constitution.

(Editors note: Moira’s first name is pronounced Moy-rah)