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.
2,462 Articles
House Armed Services Committee Hearing: The May 31, 2014 Transfer of Five Senior Taliban Detainees
Happening now Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel testifies before the House Armed Services Committee the May 31, 2014 transfer of five senior Taliban detainees. Secretary Hagel’s…
Congress Clearly Contemplated Prisoner Exchanges as Part of NDAA Notification Requirements–and so did the White House
Some think the following is the Obama administration’s main argument for bypassing Congress in transferring the 5 Taliban detainees from Guantanamo: Congress did not contemplate…
Interpretation and Retaliation in the Obama Administration
Caitlin Hayden’s statement last week on “why it was lawful” to exchange five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo for Sergeant Bergdahl, “notwithstanding the notice requirement…
Could Desertion in Afghanistan Be a Capital Offense?
As the debate over last weekend’s prisoner exchange continues, one of the darker memes to emerge is the suggestion that Sergeant Bergdahl could/should be court-martialed…
Statelessness update: the UK Government makes concession to citizenship-stripping proposals
Just Security has been covering citizenship-stripping proposals on both sides of the Atlantic. In an earlier post, I wrote about the UK Government’s citizen-stripping proposal…
SSCI Holds Hearing on USA FREEDOM Act
Happening now the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) is holding an open hearing on the House passed USA FREEDOM Act (H.R. 3361). For previous reaction to the House…
The competing 2015 NDAA bills–A sign of hope for closing GTMO
On May 22, the House approved its version of the 2015 Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 325-98. This Monday, Senator Levin introduced the version of the 2015 NDAA recently…
Benghazi Oversight: The Composition of the Select Committee
This post provides an initial assessment of the composition of the newly formed House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi. Over several…
Stepping back from the precipice in Bond
[Also posted on Opinio Juris.] The Supreme Court has finally issued its decision in United States v. Bond. Although it appeared the Court might be on the brink of a momentous…
The Administration’s explanation for why it was lawful not to wait 30 days to complete the Bergdahl exchange
National Security Council Caitlin Hayden just issued this statement concerning “why it was lawful for the Administration to proceed with the [Bergdahl] transfer notwithstanding…
The Bergdahl Exchange [Fifth UPDATE (with clarification)]
This is truly wonderful news. The five Taliban detainees transferred to Qatar apparently are: Abdul Haq Wasiq (ISN 004) Mullah Norullah Noori (ISN 006) Mullah Mohammad Fazl (ISN…
A(nother) Procedural Roadblock for Drone Casualty Reporting Requirements
Yesterday, efforts to bring greater transparency to the U.S. drone program hit a(nother) legislative procedural roadblock, as the House Rules Committee voted to not include an…