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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on Subpoena Authority and Oversight
Record date · January 1, 2017
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What This Bill Does
This document is a transcript of a 2016 House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing regarding Congress's constitutional power to issue s and the legal options available when entities fail to comply. Legal experts testified on the history and scope of legislative responsibilities.
The hearing explores the legal mechanisms Congress uses to compel information from executive agencies or private entities, which directly impacts the ability of legislative committees to conduct investigations and enforce accountability.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Congressional Committees
The hearing addresses the legal tools available to committees for conducting investigations and obtaining information.
Executive Branch Agencies
These agencies are the primary subjects of Congressional oversight and potential subpoena actions.
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on September 14, 2016, by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- The primary subject was the scope of Congressional subpoena authority and legal recourse for non-compliance.
- Four legal scholars provided testimony regarding the constitutional basis for oversight.
- The record includes extensive supplemental materials submitted by committee members, including articles and documents related to oversight.
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- Charles Tiefer provided written answers to post-hearing questions for the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Focus on Enforcement
The hearing indicates a specific interest by the 114th Congress in strengthening the enforcement mechanisms for subpoenas issued to executive agencies.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz5Current news / social attention level
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