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.
2,559 Articles
Trump’s Plan to Have the Military Build a Wall is Illegal
As the shutdown stretches on, the Trump administration is beginning to realize the severity of its consequences for millions of Americans, and is desperately searching for a way…
Wrecking the Government to Build a Wall
Washington has muddled into and out of shutdowns before, but this one has the potential to be dangerously historic. The current impasse may become the straw that breaks the camel’s…
The 116th Congress and Preventing Extremist Violence: Look North for Guidance
Democrats taking control of the U.S. House today with the start of the 116th Congress have a long and growing list of policy (as well as investigative) priorities. Included on…
Coming to Terms with the Impeachment Process: The Case for Starting a Formal Inquiry
A threshold question is whether even to start an inquiry and set the ground rules. The time for doing so is now, writes former White House Counsel Bob Bauer.
Mueller’s Investigation May Be Coming to an End, But Congress Is Just Getting Started
On January 3, 2019, a new Congress will head to work with a monumental — but not unprecedented — job to tackle. Close observers of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation…
Not Mere “Process Crimes,” False Statements Prosecutions Are Serious
In case you haven’t noticed, Special Counsel Robert Mueller takes lying very seriously. And, as we witnessed during Michael Flynn’s dramatic sentencing hearing, apparently…
U.S. Air Strike Data from Afghanistan Takes Step Back in Transparency
The U.S. military has stopped publishing important information on its air war in Afghanistan, just two months after deciding to release it. In October, the U.S. began publishing…
Flynn’s Work as Turkey’s Agent While a Transition Official: Judge Sullivan Was at Least Half Right
Michael Flynn may have been working as an unregistered agent of Turkey while serving the United States in an official capacity after all, depending simply on how you define his…
A False Choice on Saudi Arabia: Sanctioning Riyadh’s Military-Intelligence Sectors is a Workable Option
The real question now is how to make clear to the Saudis and especially MBS that Washington won’t accept Riyadh’s brutal murder of a journalist or Yemen war, all without losing…
The Senate Strikes Back: Checking Trump’s Foreign Policy
Though the Senate vote on cessation of military assistance for the Saudi War in Yemen will have no practical effect – the House of Representatives will not take up the matter…
Why It Doesn’t Matter Whether It’d Be Constitutional to Indict Trump
Lederman writes that so much of the public discussion is a distraction from Mueller's greatest value: determining if President Trump is compromised by Moscow, thus preventing the…
10 Ways the U.S. Can Curb Interpol Abuses
Interpol serves a good purpose, and it has good rules. But not all members are as good as its rules. The U.S. can take steps, on its own or with others, to limit abuses and shield…