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.
2,460 Articles
Take Back: How Congress Can Reclaim Its Power
Early in the Clinton administration, I served on the National Security Council staff when former Rep. Howard Berman, a California Democrat, called me one day to tell me that the…
L’Affaire d’Assange: Why His Extradition May Be Blocked
The Department of Justice’s release of a superseding indictment accusing Julian Assange of numerous Espionage Act violations has stirred grave concern among defenders of a free…
The Next Wave of Congressional Subpoena Litigation: Oversight Power vs. Executive Privilege
The next phase of Congress’ trying to enforce its supboenas in court is getting underway. Why the litigation over executive privilege is about to get ... . complicated, and how…
The Snowden Effect, Six Years On
Six years ago, the world was introduced to a previously unknown government contractor who revealed the National Security Agency (NSA) was conducting an unparalleled level of warrantless…
An “Emergency” Arms Deal: Will Congress Acquiesce in Another Blow to Its Authority?
If Congress can’t stand up to protect its own prerogatives on arms sales, then its chances of being heard on anything else will be permanently diminished.
Assange May Have Committed a Crime, But the Espionage Act Is the Wrong Law to Prosecute
Is Wikileaks leader Julian Assange a journalist? If journalism is a profession, it is because, like other professions, it has standards and a code of ethics. As an example, a journalist…
Mueller’s Message: The Obstruction That Nearly Halted Criminal Case Against Russians
"Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s statement on Wednesday may reset the conversation about his investigation’s findings, and how Congress and the American public move forward…
Loopholes Allow Foreign Adversaries to Legally Interfere in U.S. Elections
The Mueller Report established beyond a reasonable doubt that Russia invaded the 2016 presidential election to disrupt our democracy, harm presidential candidate Hillary Clinton…
How Impeachment Proceedings Would Strengthen Congress’s Investigatory Powers
Congressional oversight expert explains several ways in which Congress would have more legal powers to investigate President Trump for potential wrongdoing if it launches an impeachment…
An Emergency or Business as Usual? Huawei and Trump’s Emergency Powers
Should the emergency declaration be used purely as leverage in a trade war, it would clearly be an abuse of the intent of emergency powers.
Indictment of Assange for Espionage Directly Threatens Press Freedoms
This article is co-published with The Bulwark. Boy, did I ever get this wrong. Back in mid-April, when the Department of Justice unveiled an indictment of Julian Assange,…
In Legislation to Reduce Global Violence, Can U.S. Move Beyond a Focus on “Extremism”?
The real priority for the United States is to address not just ‘extremism’ but violent conflict overall by being clear-eyed about the complex factors driving it and what contributes…