FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on Subpoena Authority and Oversight

Original title: AFFIRMING CONGRESS' CONSTITUTIONAL OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES: SUBPOENA AUTHORITY AND RECOURSE FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LAWFULLY ISSUED SUBPOENAS

January 1, 2017

congressional oversight subpoena power constitutional law separation of powers legislative authority

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The Frame

What this does

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 is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

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.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

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.

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.
Charles Tiefer provided written answers to post-hearing questions for the record.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was convened to examine the constitutional authority of Congress to issue s and to discuss what actions Congress can take when a subpoena is ignored.

Who testified at this hearing?

The witnesses were legal experts: Jonathan Turley, Ronald D. Rotunda, Charles Tiefer, and Elizabeth Price Foley.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift80% confidence

Focus on Enforcement

The hearing indicates a specific interest by the 114th Congress in strengthening the enforcement mechanisms for subpoenas issued to executive agencies.

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Connected Entities

personJonathan Turley“Witness, Professor of Law at George Washington University”Map →

personCharles Tiefer“Witness, Professor of Law at University of Baltimore”Map →

personLamar S. Smith“Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology”Map →

organizationCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology“House committee conducting the hearing”Map →

personRonald D. Rotunda“Witness, Professor of Jurisprudence at Chapman University”Map →

personEddie Bernice Johnson“Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology”Map →

personElizabeth Price Foley“Witness, Professor of Law at Florida International University”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

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