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.
2,460 Articles

How to Ensure New Congressional War Authorization Is Not a Blank Check
A look at the most contested elements of the draft war authorization proposed by Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., along with alternatives for Congress that would…

If Mattis Meant to Assert Self-Defense for the Syria Strike, He Was Wrong
Since the United States conducted a military strike on various targets associated with the Syrian government’s chemical weapons program last week, prominent voices in the legal…

Gina Haspel Threatens Intelligence Cooperation: Yet Another Reason for Senators to Vote Her Down As CIA Director
Gina Haspel’s morally indefensible role in the CIA’s torture program makes her unqualified to be the new CIA director. What’s worse, if confirmed as CIA director, she would…

What the Senate Needs to Ask Gina Haspel
Without full declassification of her involvement in American torture and rendition programs during the George W. Bush administration, Gina Haspel’s confirmation hearing will…

Just Security Podcast: Oona Hathaway on the Bad Legal Arguments for Bombing Syria
Above: A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber after refueling from a KC-10 Extender following its participation in strikes against chemical weapons targets in Syria, April 14, 2018. Image…

Corker’s Proposal Hands Trump A Dangerous, Open-Ended War Authorization
While the media is focused on the Trump administration’s strikes against Syria, there’s another effort to entrench and expand the U.S. global war posture that’s getting less…

Bad Legal Arguments for the Syria Strikes
There is no apparent domestic or international legal authority for the airstrikes conducted in Syria on April 14.

Is Facebook a Community? Digital Experts Weigh In
The notion that Facebook is a community of more than 2 billion users worldwide, and over 200 million in the United States, seems core to Zuckerberg’s conception of the platform,…

Does Congress Really Think It’s Reasserting Its War Powers by Giving Them Away to Trump?
Bipartisan efforts to address the problematic status quo should be applauded. But without significant changes to what is reportedly in the latest proposed AUMF, the new authorization…

‘I Won’t Torture’ is Not Enough: Question Pompeo on US Rendition Policy
Numerous concerns have been raised about Mike Pompeo, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of state. Though the US Senate confirmed him as the Central Intelligence Agency…

Are Children Safe on Facebook? 12 Questions Congress Should Ask Zuckerberg
About 170 million children 13-17 years old are Facebook users. How do recent data breaches, current marketing ploys, and privacy protections apply to this vulnerable population?…

John Bolton: A Threat At Home And Abroad?
On April 9th, General H.R. McMaster will vacate the National Security Advisor position for a man widely viewed as his temperamental and intellectual opposite: former U.N. ambassador…