Congressional Oversight Essay

Congressional oversight is an implied power that oversights the United States Congress over the Executive Branch

Stemming from a loose interpretation of the Constitution – and specifically the necessary and proper clause -- congressional oversight is one of many enumerated powers bestowed upon Congress per Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. As the legislative body, Congress is charged with overseeing the inner workings of the Executive Branch and its federal agencies as a part of a system of checks and balances. However, as previously mentioned, this power is one of the implied powers of Congress, thus making it very difficult for many to delineate rightful oversight from reckless meandering. In the Constitution, for example, there is no singular mention of a definitive power such as “congressional oversight.” Consequently, there is no

Hello, Kevin. I am agree with your point that intelligence oversight is working but not at optimal. For example the 9/11 Commission concluded that many aspects of congressional oversight of the IC were “dysfunctional.” And it suggested several reforms they assessed would increase Congress’s capabilities: abolishing term limits for members of the intelligence committees so that they build their expertise to enhance their oversight abilities, combining the authorization and appropriation functions thus limiting the number of lawmakers involved and further increasing the efficacy of congressional oversight. Congress has tremendous power since it approves the fund; However, this also created opportunity for congress to abuse it if willing. Congress

According to Rosenbach (2009), “Congressional oversight refers to the responsibility of the legislative branch to monitor and indirectly supervise federal programs, agencies, and policies. This authority is rooted in the Constitution’s “necessary and proper” clause and the

The intelligence oversight committee has an immense role in ensuring budgets and laws are addressed according to policies and ensuring that national security is at the forefront of their concerns. These responsibilities must be diligently carried out and cared for by the Executive Branch. Congress must support the military and its various operations, worldwide. Security is at the highest priority of importance to the United States (Berkowitz, 1989). Before service members can go out into an area of responsibility to win hearts and minds, the government must assist in win the hearts and minds of our United States service members.

The National Security Act of 1947 centralized command and promoted intelligence sharing between institutions by establishing a Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of Central Intelligence, and NSC. The President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Air Force, and Chairman of the National Security Resources Board composed the original statutory members of the NSC. The President was also authorized to designate other specified officials to the NSC. The NSC staff, which is separate from “the Council,” comprises politically appointed individuals and civil servants organized in specialized directorates. The primary function of the NSC is to advise the President on “domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to the national security.” The NSC acts as a coordinator between departments and agencies across government, and relies on accurate and insightful reports from them to develop national security policy recommendations for the President. The NSC is unique because it both consumes intelligence to make recommendations to the President, and guides intelligence activities by coordinating policies across government.

After 9/11, Congress passed the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism" Act (USA PATRIOT Act). The PATRIOT Act amended a number of U.S. laws and rules of procedure, including the FISA. Among other major changes, now foreign intelligence gathering need only be a "significant

The founding founders saw congress as the crucial institution from the law making process (Lesson 5, Roles of Congress). Bills come from citizens or members of the house or representatives and is then introduced to the committee in which the bill relates. A vote is then taken if more support it than opposed then it is passed to the senate. Oversight is an important part in this process. It is when the members continuously check on the laws that were voted and passed to see if they were used effectively and in the way intended.

Legislative enactment of 1980, granted executive branch power to limit its notification channel to the minimum of eight members of congress—Gang of Eight. Erwin stated that limiting notification to the Gang of Eight should occur only in situations involving covert actions of such extraordinary sensitivity or risk to life that knowledge of such activity should be restricted to as few individuals as possible. The intention would ensure strong oversight while share President’s burden on difficult decision concerning significant activities. (Erwin 2013, 2).The issues I see in congressional oversight of the strategic covert action program is how and it what degree intelligence committee should know about covert actions. The congress’ concern is

The lead agency that conducts most of the U.S. intelligence oversight is Congress. This method of checks and balances is accomplished through the use

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act give the Director of National Intelligence the responsibilities of acting as the head of the Intelligence Community; acting principle advisor for matters involving national security intelligence; manage, oversee, and direct the National Intelligence Program. This Act also requires the Director to ensure that all National intelligence based information is passed on to, first the President; all heads of departments and agencies of the executive branch; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior military commanders; and the Senate and House of Representatives and congressional committees. The Director of the Intelligence National Investigation has an office specific for him full of employees and staff members to help and discover the information needed to make the decisions regarding any and all terrorist attacks. The staff in genera includes the Community Management Staff; Co-Location is not allowed to locate anywhere else with any other intelligence agencies; Deputy Directors assists the Director and is next in line if the Director is not able to fulfill their duties;

Chiefly among them was the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The aftermath of this lead to the creation of the National Intelligence Authority, a Central Intelligence Group in 1946; and subsequently enacted into law the National Security Act of 1947 that served as the organizational basis for the US conduct of the Cold War. The 1947 act also established the Central Intelligence Agency who will be responsible for the national intelligence mission (Federation of American Scientists, 1996). Also, the influence and prosecution of the cold war contributed largely into “the development of the most basic forms and practices of the U.S intelligence capability” (Lowenthal, 2014, p.16). But the "Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995" was enacted in the fall of 1994 to advance and harmonize counterintelligence and security practices across the Intelligence Community, especially the FBI and CIA (Public Law, 1994).

Spying can have multiple meanings depending on a person’s perspective. For the purpose of this paper will use a neutral definition. Spying is defined as actions that are secretive, covert, yet none of these activities should include lying, fraud, or dishonesty. However, in the eyes of many spying is unethical since lying, dishonesty, corruption, and fraud can occur while spying. Nations and empires since the dawn of human history have spied on enemies and friends, for the purpose of information gathering. One of the ethical issues is whether the immorality of spying is justified when the outcome is protection of one’s nation. People will say that the quote, “the ends justifies the mean.” can be used to describe spying and its ethical dilemma.

The National Security Council’s Office of Intelligence Programs, President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, and the Department of Defense’s Intelligence Oversight Program all are executive branch organizations that conduct intelligence oversight.

Over the years, both state and federal governments in the United States have changed drastically to become critical domains in both foreign and domestic policies/procedures. There are more than 220 organizations in relations to defense and homeland security efforts; they are all directed by the office of the National Intelligence, which comes from the executive branch of government (HugPages, 2014). Not only is the intelligence process used to track foreign military capabilities and scrutiny of foreign government intentions, it has been evolved over the years to fit many roles needed by the United States. One of the roles the intelligence plays is weighing in on terrorist plans, proliferation of cyber threats, nuclear threats, global warming, and many other areas. This community has been crucial in helping to support the