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.
2,453 Articles
The case for the President’s unilateral authority to conclude the impending Iran deal is easy because it will (likely) be a nonbinding agreement under international law
[Cross-posted at Lawfare.] In Marty’s post yesterday about the letter that 47 Senators sent to “the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he briefly addressed…
The Cotton letter . . . and the Vice President’s response
I was thinking of offering a few thoughts on the growing contretemps regarding the letter to “the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran” penned by Senator Cotton…
Legal Flaws in the 47 Senators’ Letter to Iran
Since John Marshall stated in Congress in 1800 that the President is the sole representative of the United States “with foreign nations,” it has been widely understood…
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, March 9–13
Below is a calendar of Congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. There are no House hearings scheduled this week and many representatives will back…
US Government Makes Slight Concession in Twitter’s Warrant-Canary Suit
The US government last week conceded for the first time that some companies have the right to publish so called “warrant canaries” in a new filing supporting its partial motion…
Beyond Drones: The Next-Generation of Autonomous Weapons Cannot be Developed in Secrecy
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…
A Terrorist Conspiracy Via Email
On April 3, 2009, Abid Naseer, a 22-year-old Pakistani student, sat in front of his computer in his Manchester, England, apartment and drafted an email to his al-Qaeda handler…
Video: UN Expert Pablo de Greiff on Holding US Officials Responsible for Torture
Last week, I had the chance to ask Pablo de Greiff, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, about accountability…
National Security-Related Congressional Hearings, March 2–6
Below is a calendar of Congressional hearings on national security matters for this week. Tuesday, March 3, 2015 9:00am – House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense – Budget…
“New Torture Files”: Declassified Memos Detail Roles of Bush White House and DOJ Officials Who Conspired to Approve Torture
An alleged CIA prison near Kabul, Afghanistan. Image credit: Trevor Paglen via Wikimedia Commons. Last week, I wrote, both here and in the New York Times, that after reading all…
The Intellectual—But Not Political—AUMF Consensus
[Cross-posted at Lawfare] A real consensus is developing on the contours of an appropriate AUMF—at least among academics and other commentators. It wasn’t always this way.…
Sunset and Supersede: Striking the Right Balance in the AUMF against ISIL
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…