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.
2,544 Articles
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, April 4–8
Below is a calendar of congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. It’s a slow week in Congress; the House is out of session. Monday, April 4 5:30pm –…
Surveillance Oversight Should Be President-Proof, But We’re Still a Long Way Off
Last week, at an event co-hosted by Just Security and NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice, the NSA’s Civil Liberties and Privacy Director Rebecca Richards dropped the ball. When…
Frank and Candid Conversations About Human Rights in Cuba
Yesterday was an historic day for US-Cuba relations. President Obama and almost 40 members of Congress, including both Republicans and Democrats, traveled to Havana for an unprecedented…
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, March 21–25
Below is a calendar of congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. It’s a slow week in Congress; the Senate is out of session. Tuesday, March 22 10:00am…
A friendly critique of the proposed Chesney/Vladeck “middle ground” in the Apple/FBI disputes
Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck have published an excellent and provocative post today concerning the recent All Writs Act disputes between the government and Apple. I agree with…
Trump and Torture
Presidential candidate Donald Trump has made headlines with his campaign promise to revive torture as a US government practice. First, with his signature bluster, Trump declared…
ISIL = Genocide, Per Secretary Kerry
Secretary of State John Kerry announced on March 17 that, in his judgment, ISIL is committing genocide against a number of minority groups in Syria and Iraq, including Christians:…
The Fuzzy Scope of the Forever War Needs Definition
For years now, the questions of where and with whom exactly the United States is at war have been treated as somewhat academic. It’s not that they didn’t matter, but a gridlocked…
FOIA Litigation Has Its Own Rules, But We Deserve Better
When will federal judges start acting more like State Department flacks? It’s a question worth thinking about during Sunshine Week. For those of us who regularly litigate national…
More Transparent Than Thou
At the dawn of his second term, President Obama declared, “This is the most transparent administration in history, and I can document how that is the case.” But three years…
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, March 14–18
Below is a calendar of congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. Monday, March 14 3:00pm – House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services…
We Need to Know More About How the Government Censors Its Employees
In December, in a series of editorials published in The Washington Post and Just Security, Jack Goldsmith and Oona Hathaway made the case for reforming the government’s broken…