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
Does a Years’ Old Congressional Statute Prevent a Trump-Putin Agreement for Military Cooperation?
"Pentagon officials may feel a sense of security that the congressional statute forecloses certain options. But does it?"
Cybersecurity and the 2020 Census: Are We Prepared?
A U.S. Census Bureau employee uses a UNIVAC 1105 computer to tabulate data following the 1960 Census. Image: U.S. government via Wikimedia Commons. Just Security readers may find…
President Trump’s Stain on Brett Kavanaugh and How to Remove It
A debate has erupted over Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s views on legal issues which could arise out of the pending investigations of the man who has nominated him for the Supreme Court,…
Setting the Record Straight: Brett Kavanaugh’s Views on Criminal Investigation of the President
An important dimension of the Senate’s consideration of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court involves the judge’s views of a president’s immunities…
Studies: Mass Detention of Migrant Families is Unnecessary, Inefficient
The administration’s turn toward mass detention of asylum seekers and migrants flies in the face of numerous empirical studies, including the government’s own statistics, that…
Kennedy’s Replacement: Presidential Self-Interest and the Functions of the Confirmation Process
With the ongoing Russia investigation, what actions can and should the Senate take in Supreme Court nomination process? Former White House Counsel discusses likely Supreme Court…
Contrary to Popular Belief, the Court Did Not Hold that the Travel Ban is Lawful—Anything But
"Don’t believe the hype. In fact, not a single Justice on the Court decided—or even suggested—that the Proclamation’s exclusion of entry of nationals from five Muslim-majority…
Are We Down to One Branch of Government?
The Republican-led Congress has essentially abdicated its role. The Supreme Court — with its travel ban decision and especially now with Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement…
Saudi Arabia’s Misleading Email to Congress After Bombing of MSF Cholera Hospital
On a recent Wednesday night in June, Saudi Arabia’s embassy emailed members of the U.S. Congress providing them something between a false and misleading account of an air strike…
Dangerous Drone Bill Emerges from Senate Committee
It’s rare that a congressional committee tasked with overseeing homeland security approves a bill that would not only authorize sweeping surveillance, but also could pose a significant…
Letter to the Editor: Why Larger Defense Budgets Don’t Need to Come at the Expense of “Soft Power”
In his recent post (“The National Security Threat of Trump’s Defense Budget”) Bishop Garrison argues that the Trump administration’s proposed increases to the defense budget…
The Department of Defense’s Report on Civilian Casualties: A Step Forward in Transparency?
While the Pentagon's new report on civilian casualties is a step in the right direction, future DoD reports should include more detail on specific incidents, including discrepancies…