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.
2,549 Articles

BREAKING: Sri Lankan Presidential Hopeful Sued in Federal Court for Human Rights Violations
Gotabaya Rajapaksa was sued in federal court in the Central District of California by a Canadian citizen who alleges he was detained and tortured from 2007-2010 by the Terrorism…

Barr the Redactor?
[April 7 UPDATES noted.] In his March 29 letter, Attorney General William Barr informed the Chairs of the congressional Judiciary Committees that the report Special Counsel Robert…

Norms Watch: Damage to Democracy and Rule of Law in March 2019
Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of those norms in reactions…

The Limited War Powers Precedent of the Korean “Police Action”
In a recent piece in the Washington Post, Professor Mary Dudziak drew attention to the Executive Branch’s continued reliance upon President Truman’s police action on the Korean…

U.S. Denial of Safe Harbor Compounds Venezuela’s Crisis
Even as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens military force to achieve the regime change he’s calling for in Venezuela, his administration has accelerated deportations from…

The House Oversight Committee Squeeze on White House Security Practices
Over the last several weeks, the House Oversight and Reform Committee has been busy documenting allegations from a whistleblower who stepped forward to raise concerns about security…

How Barr May Interpret What It Means to Withhold “Grand Jury Information”
While federal rules govern grand jury secrecy, they contain room for interpretation. Here's how the Attorney General may interpret them broadly to hide a large swath of Mueller's…

The Khashoggi Killing at Six Months: How Congress Should Move Forward
Tomorrow marks six months from the day agents of Saudi Arabia murdered Virginia resident, Washington Post columnist, and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate…

Fulfilling the Promise of the USA Freedom Act: Time to Truly End Bulk Collection of Americans’ Calling Records
The new Section 215 "call detail records" program is still ineffective and doesn't justify the privacy threats it poses.

The Hidden Issue in Huawei’s Suit Against the United States
Huawei v. U.S. is more than simply a publicity stunt or moral appeal by the Chinese company — unfair legislative targeting is a claim that courts and commentators should take…

What to Do with Vetoed Bills
Applying a Youngstown canon to vetoed bills respects Congress’s clearly expressed position while also complying with the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court in…

Now Mueller’s Probe is Over, Should and Will His Findings Be Made Public? Law and Past Practice
The first waiting game is over. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has completed his role as Special Counsel and delivered his findings to Attorney General William Barr.
Now, the…