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
Feinstein-Burr: The Bill That Bans Your Browser
Last week, I criticized the confused rhetorical framework that the Feinstein-Burr encryption backdoor proposal tries to impose on the ongoing Crypto Wars 2.0 debate. In this…
Congress’s Embarrassingly Empty (National Security) Record
This week, we learned the United States will send 250 special operations troops to the war in Syria, bringing the publicly known total number of American troops operating in the…
Would JASTA Violate International Law?
Writing in The New York Times last Friday, Curt Bradley and Jack Goldsmith argued that the Justice Against State Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) would “violate a core principle…
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, April 25–29
Below is a calendar of congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. Monday, April 25 5:30pm – Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Business…
The Proposed Military Commissions Fix Is Anything But
This post is the latest installment of our “Monday Reflections” feature, in which a different Just Security editor examines the big stories from the previous week or looks…
The National Security Council as FOIA “Agency”
Two weeks ago, Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) introduced a bill that would define the National Security Council (NSC) as an “agency” for purposes of the Freedom of Information…
The FBI’s Warrantless Surveillance Back Door Just Opened a Little Wider
On Tuesday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a redacted version of an opinion by Judge Thomas F. Hogan of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance…
Feinstein-Burr, Encryption, and “The Rule of Law”
There’s a lot to say about the substance of the misguided anti-encryption legislation sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Richard Burr, which was recently released as a “discussion…
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, April 18–22
Below is a calendar of congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. Tuesday, April 19 9:30am – Senate Armed Services – Re-appointment and nomination:…
The 9/11 Civil Litigation and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA)
For lots of readers, I suspect Saturday’s front-page New York Times story by Mark Mazzetti was their first exposure to the ongoing efforts by 9/11 victims and their families…
Recap of Recent Posts at Just Security (April 9–15)
I. Law of Armed Conflict Marty Lederman, Are All “Members” of ISIL Targetable? (Saturday, April 9) Marty Lederman, The Egan Speech and the Bush Doctrine: Imminence, Necessity,…
Here’s What the Burr-Feinstein Anti-Crypto Bill Gets Wrong
The latest Crypto War is being fought on multiple fronts: behind closed doors, in the courts, and now in Congress. On April 13, Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.),…