Reading Classified Information On Congressional Floor
Ackerman is certainly correct that the speech or debate clause immunizes members of congress from prosecution for disclosing classified information on the floor or in committee hearings.
Reading classified information on congressional floor. Both the house and senate have established procedures for releasing classified information. Floor procedure in the u s. Practices and proposals congressional research service summary the protection of classified national security and other controlled information is of concern not only to the executive branch which for the most part determines what information is classified and controlled but also to congress. The congressional record consists of four sections.
The us constitution s speech or debate clause generally protects members of congress from prosecution for anything they say as part of congressional debate or business. The house section the senate section the extensions of remarks and since the 1940s the daily digest. House of representatives introduction the honorable david dreier. But congressional procedure maven michael stern argues that this is a little hasty.
The committee used to meet in a secretive fourth floor capitol room accessible by stair but after the attacks of 9 11 plans were drawn for a larger office suite in the cvc which was partly. Of the reading clerk s rostrum on the second level of the podium. The clerk will then register the vote into the computer but the member should visually check the board to make sure the vote is recorded correctly. A federal judge on thursday rejected john bolton s effort to throw out a lawsuit from the trump administration alleging that the former national security adviser published classified information.
Congressional research service security clearance process. In addition congress codified its right to classified information in the intelligence oversight act of 1980 which explicitly requires that the president keep congressional intelligence. Bruce ackerman suggests that members of congress ought to simply read classified information into the public record the moment of truth is now. As he also recognizes however members are not protected against congressional discipline up to and including.
Answers to frequently asked questions. Citation needed at the back of each daily issue is the daily digest which summarizes the day s floor and committee activities and serves as a table of contents for each issue the house and senate sections contain proceedings. Handed to the congressional.