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.
2,468 Articles
Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (July 7-July 14)
Editor’s Note: 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…
The Smoking Gun for Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump Campaign Committee
On Saturday, the New York Times broke the news of a previously unreported Trump Tower meeting in June 2016 between a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer and Donald Trump Jr., Trump…
Not Just a Personal Problem for Trump Jr.–Now Trouble for the Trump Campaign and Trump Sr.
There is an impression developing in the current reporting that somehow Donald Trump Jr.’s emails and activities may be primarily a personal problem. But he was, of course, an…
As Collusion Evidence Emerges, Obstruction Allegations Begin To Look More Damaging
The criminal investigations of the Trump administration seem largely to have followed two separate paths: on the one hand, whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign…
Open Door to Moscow? New Facts in the Potential Criminal Case of Trump Campaign Coordination with Russia
The Trump campaign in 2016 was signaling to Russia that it would be happy to have the Putin regime’s help. President Trump, as a candidate, famously called for Russia’s assistance.…
US-UAE Partnership and Alleged Torture: Recommended Next Steps for the Administration and Congress
An important foreign military partner in our armed conflict against al-Qaida in Yemen—the United Arab Emirates—has faced a series of allegations that it is engaged in systematic…
Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (June 23-June 30)
Editor’s Note: 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…
House Appropriations Committee Passes Amendment to Repeal 2001 War Authorization–Here’s What They Said
Whoa is right. On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment that would repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). Congresswoman Barbara…
Rethinking US Security Assistance Beyond the Leahy Law
An American special operations soldier observing Burkina Faso troops practice clearing a vehicle. I just had the pleasure of speaking alongside Colonel Carl Kelly, Chief of Staff…
The “Leahy Law” Prohibiting US Assistance to Human Rights Abusers: Pulling Back the Curtain
With almost weekly news reports of US support for foreign governments with track records of gross human rights abuse—think torture in Yemen by Emirati security forces, violations…
Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (June 16-June 23)
Editor’s Note: 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…
Congress’s 2001 AUMF as Legal Basis for US Shootdown of Syrian Jet
It is not that much of a stretch to say that Congress’s 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) provides a legal basis for the U.S. shootdown of a Syrian jet,…