Congress

Just Security’s expert authors offer analysis of U.S. Congress’ role in national security, foreign affairs, the rule of law, and rights. Coverage includes analysis and informational resources related to the legislative process, oversight and investigations of the executive branch, and major debates on the separation of powers and Congress’ constitutional role.

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2,549 Articles
Side-by-side photos of Mueller and Trump.

Why Robert Mueller Is Right that the Obstruction Statutes Apply to the President

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has a better argument than Attorney General William Barr about whether obstruction statutes apply to the president. They do, and here's why.
Nixon flashes the victory hand signal as he stands outside a helicopter.

Lesson from Nixon: With Today’s Facts, Impeaching Trump Won’t Work

Impeachment of a president is a political act by Congress requiring time, facts, and bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. The Nixon impeachment had all that. Trump's…
Side-by-side photos of Nixon and Trump.

The Precedent for Impeachment: Nixon, Not Clinton

[Editor’s note: Just Security is publishing a series in conversation with Sidney Blumenthal’s “An Open Memo: Comparison of Clinton Impeachment, Nixon Impeachment and…

An Open Memo: Comparison of Clinton Impeachment, Nixon Impeachment and Trump Pre-Impeachment

Blumenthal writes, "The Clinton example as a predictor should be dispensed with in considering Trump. ... Trump proceeds from a much weaker position than Nixon. He depends entirely…
A copy of the Mueller Report opened to page 166 and 167. Significant portions of the text are redacted.

Enforcing Congressional Subpoenas: A Modest Proposal

A change in the law that would enhance Congress’s ability to extract information from the executive branch is a heavy lift, particularly in the current climate. With that in…
House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) holds up copies of the Starr Report during a House Judiciary Committee markup vote on a resolution to issue a subpoena to the Justice Department to receive the full unredacted Mueller report, on Capitol Hill April 3, 2019 in Washington, DC.

The Barr-Nadler Subpoena Standoff: Still Room for Accommodation?

In its standoff with the House Judiciary Committee over the Mueller report, the Justice Department’s assertions when it comes to protecting its law enforcement equities, are…
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) presides over a mark-up hearing where members may vote to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for not providing an unredacted copy of special prosecutor Robert Mueller's report in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill May 08, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Q&A on House-Justice Dept Showdown Over Release of Unredacted Mueller Report and Contempt of Congress

We asked top expert Andy Wright, who has served in both the White House Counsel's Office and on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) chairs the House Oversight Committee as Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump testifies on Capitol Hill February 27, 2019 in Washington, DC.

The Mazars USA Subpoena as an Existential Threat to President Trump

The ‘friendly’ subpoena recently served on the tax and accounting firm Mazars USA seeking client records related to Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization may not have…
Four adult civilians and three children was among the remains of a factory after a reported airstrike by Saudi-led coalition in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, on January 20, 2019.

Getting Past the Veto on Ending Yemen War: How Congress’ Next Moves Can Succeed

Congress can now take two paths to end Yemen War, in light of President's Trump successful veto. A short-term and long-term strategy.
Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, Patrick M. Shanahan, Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson listen during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC.

The Pentagon’s 2018 Civilian Casualties Report: What’s In It and What’s Next

The Pentagon’s latest annual report, released this morning, lists shockingly low numbers of "credible" civilian casualties. It also illustrated the need for better processes…
Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) waits to start a House Judiciary Committee hearing where Attorney General Robert Barr declined to appear, Capitol Hill on May 2, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Amid the Nadler-Barr Standoff: Some History of Struggles Over Hearing Processes

Attorney General William Barr refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee at its hearing today on the Mueller Report, further escalating the battle between the executive…
U.S. Attorney General William Barr leans his head sideways onto his hand as he testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee May 1, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Barr and Congress: Is the Focus on Criminality Too Narrow?–Five Experts Weigh In

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s questioning of Attorney General William Barr yesterday raises the question of whether Congress, in responding to the findings in Special Counsel…
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