In one of the last questions of the debate, an audience member asked when it would be appropriate for the Congress to retake some of the constitutional authority it has passed to the president in the post-9/11 era, and how it would do so.

In his answer, Burridge accused the Congress of ceding its powers to the president, an act he called "outrageous."

"I think it's very important to defeat the terrorists ... but at the same time, we cannot cede our constitutional privileges," Burridge said.

Cannon called such claims overstated, saying bills where the Congress has granted certain powers to the executive branch, such as the act that addressed military tribunals, were carefully examined and passed overwhelmingly by members of both parties.

"There have been some really outrageous statements in the press about Congress ceding power to the president, but if you look at it closely, I think you'll find that's not the case," he said.

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