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WHTP-2009-06-National-Security-1.Pdf
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louis Fisher is Specialist in Constitutional Law with the Law Library of the Library of Congress. The views expressed here are personal, not institutional. Earlier in his career at the Library of Congress, Fisher worked for the Congressional Research Service from 1970 to March 3, 2006. During his service with CRS he was Senior Specialist in Separation of Powers and research director of the House Iran-Contra Committee in 1987, writing major sections of the final report. Fisher received his doctorate in political science from the New School for Social Research and has taught at a number of universities and law schools. He is the author of eighteen books, including In the Name of National Security: Unchecked Presidential Power and the Reynolds Case (2006), Presidential War Power (2d ed. 2004), Military Tribunals and Presidential Power (2005), The Politics of Executive Privilege (2004), American Constitutional Law (with Katy J. Harriger, 8th ed. 2009), Constitutional Conflicts between Congress and the Presidency (5th ed. 2005), Nazi Saboteurs on Trial: A Military Tribunal and American Law (2003), and, most recently, The Constitution and 9/11: Recurring Threats to America’s Freedoms (2008). He has received four book awards. Fisher has been invited to testify before Congress on such issues as war powers, state secrets, CIA whistle-blowing, covert spending, NSA surveillance, executive privilege, executive spending discretion, presidential reorganization authority, Congress and the Constitution, the legislative veto, the item veto, the pocket veto, recess appointments, the budget process, the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act, the balanced budget amendment, biennial budgeting, presidential impoundment powers, and executive lobbying. -
The Capitol Dome
THE CAPITOL DOME The Capitol in the Movies John Quincy Adams and Speakers of the House Irish Artists in the Capitol Complex Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way A MAGAZINE OF HISTORY PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETYVOLUME 55, NUMBER 22018 From the Editor’s Desk Like the lantern shining within the Tholos Dr. Paula Murphy, like Peart, studies atop the Dome whenever either or both America from the British Isles. Her research chambers of Congress are in session, this into Irish and Irish-American contributions issue of The Capitol Dome sheds light in all to the Capitol complex confirms an import- directions. Two of the four articles deal pri- ant artistic legacy while revealing some sur- marily with art, one focuses on politics, and prising contributions from important but one is a fascinating exposé of how the two unsung artists. Her research on this side of can overlap. “the Pond” was supported by a USCHS In the first article, Michael Canning Capitol Fellowship. reveals how the Capitol, far from being only Another Capitol Fellow alumnus, John a palette for other artist’s creations, has been Busch, makes an ingenious case-study of an artist (actor) in its own right. Whether as the historical impact of steam navigation. a walk-on in a cameo role (as in Quiz Show), Throughout the nineteenth century, steam- or a featured performer sharing the marquee boats shared top billing with locomotives as (as in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), the the most celebrated and recognizable motif of Capitol, Library of Congress, and other sites technological progress. -
The Building As Completed, from Walter's Designs
CHAPTER XVI THE BUILDING AS COMPLETED, FROM WALTER’S DESIGNS DWARD CLARK supervised the completion of the Capitol the old Senate Chamber being devoted to the court room and the west from the designs of Thomas U. Walter, leaving the building as front being used by the court officials for office and robing rooms.1 it stands to-day. The terraces on the west, north, and south are The attic story [Plate 223] is so arranged in each wing that the a part of the general landscape scheme of Frederick Law Olm- public has access from its corridors to the galleries of the House and Ested. The building consists of the central or old building, and two wings, Senate Chambers, with provision for the press and committee rooms or the Capitol extension, with the new Dome on the old building. facing the exterior walls of the building. Document rooms are also pro- The cellar [Plate 220] contained space on the central western vided on this floor. extension available for office and committee rooms. Other portions of Plates 224, 225, 225a show the eastern front of the building as the cellar are given up to the heating and ventilating apparatus, or are completed, the principal new features being the porticoes on the wings, used for storage. Beneath the center of the Dome a vault was built in which are similar to the central portico designed by Latrobe. Although the cellar to contain the remains of George Washington, but because of the original design of Thornton contemplated a central portico he did the objection of the family to his burial in the Capitol his body never not contemplate the broad flight of steps which extends to the ground rested in the contemplated spot. -
THE AMERICAN POWER All- Stars
THE AMERICAN POWER All- Stars Scorecard & Voting Guide History About every two years, when Congress takes up an energy bill, the Big Oil Team and the Clean Energy Team go head to head on the floor of the U.S. Senate -- who will prevail and shape our nation’s energy policy? The final rosters for the two teams are now coming together, re- flecting Senators’ votes on energy and climate legislation. Senators earn their spot on the Big Oil Team by voting to maintain America’s ailing energy policy with its en- trenched big government subsidies for oil companies, lax oversight on safety and the environment for oil drilling, leases and permits for risky sources of oil, and appointments of regulators who have cozy relationships with the industry. Senators get onto the Clean Energy Team by voting for a new energy policy that will move Amer- ica away from our dangerous dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, and toward cleaner, safer sources of energy like wind, solar, geothermal, and sustainable biomass. This new direction holds the opportunity to make American power the energy technology of the future while creating jobs, strengthening our national security, and improving our environment. Introduction Lobbyists representing the two teams’ sponsors storm the halls of the Congress for months ahead of the votes to sway key players to vote for their side. The Big Oil Team’s sponsors, which include BP and the American Petroleum Institute (API), use their colossal spending power to hire sly K-Street lobbyists who make closed-door deals with lawmakers, sweetened with sizable campaign contribu- tions. -
The United States Government Manual 2009/2010
The United States Government Manual 2009/2010 Office of the Federal Register National Archives and Records Administration The artwork used in creating this cover are derivatives of two pieces of original artwork created by and copyrighted 2003 by Coordination/Art Director: Errol M. Beard, Artwork by: Craig S. Holmes specifically to commemorate the National Archives Building Rededication celebration held September 15-19, 2003. See Archives Store for prints of these images. VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:39 Oct 26, 2009 Jkt 217558 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6996 Sfmt 6996 M:\GOVMAN\217558\217558.000 APPS06 PsN: 217558 dkrause on GSDDPC29 with $$_JOB Revised September 15, 2009 Raymond A. Mosley, Director of the Federal Register. Adrienne C. Thomas, Acting Archivist of the United States. On the cover: This edition of The United States Government Manual marks the 75th anniversary of the National Archives and celebrates its important mission to ensure access to the essential documentation of Americans’ rights and the actions of their Government. The cover displays an image of the Rotunda and the Declaration Mural, one of the 1936 Faulkner Murals in the Rotunda at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Building in Washington, DC. The National Archives Rotunda is the permanent home of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freeedom, have secured the the rights of the American people for more than two and a quarter centuries. In 2003, the National Archives completed a massive restoration effort that included conserving the parchment of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and re-encasing the documents in state-of-the-art containers. -
Increasing Access to Information in the United States Congress
Draft of 5/27/2021 – FOR DISCUSSION Increasing Access to Information in the United States Congress Thomas M. Susman “When the FOIA was on the House floor, right before the vote, Members lined up before the bill’s manager, John Moss. Each in turn asked ‘John, is this going to apply to us?’ When Moss replied ‘Absolutely not,’ the Member responded: ‘Well, then I’ll vote for it.’”1 ---------- “If it’s good for the Executive branch agencies, why isn’t it good enough for the Congress?”2 By its express terms, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies only to “agencies,” defined in the Administrative Procedure Act as “each authority of the Government of the United States . but does not include—(A) the Congress.”3 The “Final Report and Recommendations” of the 2018-2020 Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee’s Report to the Archivist of the United States proposed: In the spirit of expanding the reach of FOIA, we believe that the next term of the Committee should give due consideration to the possibility of extending some aspects of FOIA to parts of the legislative and judicial branches.4 This memorandum reflects the conclusions following “due consideration” given to this issue, as to the legislative branch, by the Legislation Subcommittee (“Subcommittee”) of the 2020-2022 FOIA Advisory Committee. The Subcommittee’s consideration included a public presentation to the full Committee on March 3, 2021, from experts on access to both legislative and judicial branch records. Our proposal is that, pursuant to the Advisory Committee’s conclusion, the Archivist should recommend to Congress the following: Congress should adopt rules [or enact legislation] to establish procedures for effecting public access to legislative branch records in the possession of congressional support offices and agencies modeled after those procedures contained in the Freedom of Information Act. -
Page 187 TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS § 142A §141A. Design
Page 187 TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS § 142a Any reference in any law, map, regulation, document, § 141a. Design, installation, and maintenance of record, or other paper of the United States to such security systems; transfer of responsibility building shall be held to be a reference to the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.’’ The responsibility for design, installation, and Pub. L. 94–264, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 329, which had maintenance of security systems to protect the designated the Library of Congress Annex as the Li- physical security of the buildings and grounds of brary of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, was re- pealed by Pub. L. 96–269, § 3, June 13, 1980, 94 Stat. 486, the Library of Congress is transferred from the as part of the redesignation of that building as the Li- Architect of the Capitol to the Capitol Police brary of Congress John Adams Building and the des- Board. Such design, installation, and mainte- ignation of the main building of the Library of Con- nance shall be carried out under the direction of gress as the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson the Committee on House Oversight of the House Building. of Representatives and the Committee on Rules LIBRARY OF CONGRESS JOHN ADAMS BUILDING and Administration of the Senate, and without Pub. L. 96–269, § 2, June 13, 1980, 94 Stat. 486, provided regard to section 5 of title 41. Any alteration to that: ‘‘The building in the block bounded by East Cap- a structural, mechanical, or architectural fea- itol Street, Second Street Southeast, Third Street ture of the buildings and grounds of the Library Southeast, and Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast, in the of Congress that is required for a security sys- District of Columbia (commonly known as the Library tem under the preceding sentence may be car- of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building or the Library ried out only with the approval of the Architect of Congress Annex Building), shall hereafter be known of the Capitol. -
LIBRARY of CONGRESS 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20540 Phone, 202–707–5000
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 53 BookstoresÐGovernment Printing Office City Address Telephone Washington, DC, area: Main Bookstore ..................... 710 N. Capitol St. NW. ................................................................................ 202±512±0132 McPherson Square ............... 1510 H St. NW. ........................................................................................... 202±653±5075 Retail Sales Outlet ................ 8660 Cherry Ln., Laurel, MD ....................................................................... 301±953±7974 Atlanta, GA ............................... Suite 120, 1st Union Plz., 999 Peachtree St. NE. ...................................... 404±347±1900 Birmingham, AL ........................ 2021 3d Ave. N. .......................................................................................... 205±731±1056 Boston, MA ............................... Rm. 169, 10 Causeway St. ......................................................................... 617±720±4180 Chicago, IL ............................... Rm. 124, 401 S. State St. ........................................................................... 312±353±5133 Cleveland, OH .......................... Rm. 1653, 1240 E. 9th St. .......................................................................... 216±522±4922 Columbus, OH .......................... Rm. 207, 200 N. High St. ............................................................................ 614±469±6956 Dallas, TX ................................. Rm. 1C50, 1100 Commerce -
The President's Reorganization Authority
Order Code RL30876 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web The President’s Reorganization Authority: Review and Analysis March 8, 2001 name redacted Specialist in Government Organization and Management Government and Finance Division Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress The President’s Reorganization Authority: Review and Analysis Summary Among the initiatives being promoted with the beginning of the Administration of President George W. Bush is that of renewing the President’s lapsed authority to submit reorganization plans to Congress. The general rationale offered for renewing this authority is that it would provide additional flexibility and discretion to the President in organizing the executive branch to promote “economy and efficiency” as well as his political priorities. The regular legislative route for considering presidential proposals involving organizational changes is deemed by reorganization authority supporters as being unduly slow and cumbersome. Thus, the proposal to permit the President to submit reorganization plans subject to mandatory congressional consideration with “fast track” procedures is viewed by the reorganization proposal’s proponents as a necessary reform for good government. Critics of the reorganization plan authority reject the arguments and assumptions behind the proposal and defend the efficacy and legitimacy of the regular legislative process for executive reorganization proposals. This report addresses three specific issues: (1) the historical basis and use of the President’s reorganization authority; (2) the factors contributing to the lapse of the President’s reorganization authority in 1984,1 and (3) thoughts on the future of reorganization in the executive branch. 1 It is worth noting that the Reorganization Act of 1977, as amended, remains “on the books,” but is not presently operative for execution as it expired on December 31, 1984. -
Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge No. 1, United States Capitol Police Labor Committee
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE LA 200, John Adams Building, 110 Second Street, S.E. Washington, DC 20540-1999 ___________________________________ ) Fraternal Order of Police, ) District of Columbia Lodge No. 1, ) U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee ) ) Petitioner, ) ) and ) Case No. 16-LM-05 (NG) ) ) United States Capitol Police ) ) Employing Office ) ___________________________________ ) Before the Board of Directors: Barbara L Camens, Chair; Alan V. Friedman, Roberta L. Holzwarth, Susan S. Robfogel, and Barbara Childs Wallace, Members. DECISION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS This petition for review, involving five proposals, was filed by the Fraternal Order of Police, District of Columbia Lodge No. 1, U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee (Union) after the United States Capitol Police (USCP or Department) alleged they were outside of its duty to bargain. The petition for review comes before the Office of Compliance Board of Directors (the Board) pursuant to § 7105(a)(2)(E) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS), as applied by § 220(c)(1) of the Congressional Accountability Act, 2 U.S.C. § 1351(c)(1). The Union is the certified representative of a unit of police officers employed by the USCP. The parties are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that was to have expired on June 9, 2013, but remains in effect until superseded by a successor CBA. I. Statement of the Case The five proposals in the Union’s petition for review in this case arose, in accordance with Article 8, Changes in Conditions of Employment, of the parties’ current CBA, after it was notified that the USCP intended to make certain changes to absence and leave procedures, as set forth in draft Directive 2053.004, Absence and Leave.1 An Absence and Leave Policy has been in 1 Unlike the Board’s decision in 16-LM-02, issued on this same date, this negotiability appeal involves mid-term 2 place at the Department since 1996 and was reissued under Directive 2053.004 on April 5, 2013. -
Policy and Legislative Research for Congressional Staff: Finding Documents, Analysis, News, and Training
Policy and Legislative Research for Congressional Staff: Finding Documents, Analysis, News, and Training Updated June 28, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R43434 Policy and Legislative Research for Congressional Staff Summary This report is intended to serve as a finding aid for congressional documents, executive branch documents and information, news articles, policy analysis, contacts, and training, for use in policy and legislative research. It is not intended to be a definitive list of all resources, but rather a guide to pertinent subscriptions available in the House and Senate in addition to selected resources freely available to the public. This report is intended for use by congressional staff and will be updated as needed. Congressional Research Service Policy and Legislative Research for Congressional Staff Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Congressional Documents ............................................................................................................... 1 Executive Branch Documents and Information ............................................................................... 9 Legislative Support Agencies ........................................................................................................ 12 News, Policy, and Scholarly Research Sources ............................................................................. 13 Training and -
THE AMERICAN AI STRATEGY 16 September 2019
INSIDERS DINNER: THE AMERICAN AI STRATEGY 16 September 2019 The American AI Initiative has – at least on the surface – made government agencies put artificial intelligence on the priorities radar in their immediate and extended work. Important challenges include: the lack of a centralized platform to “hold people together”; help form a suite of best practices; ensure agencies advance in a strategically aligned fashion; hiring top AI talent into government roles; and the broader need for AI education across agencies to debunk myths, facilitate feasibility assessments and troubleshoot. At the national level, the U.S. has to consider the urgency of the competition with other nations, particularly China, whose capacity to innovate is increasing. To stay competitive, there is a call for concrete goals from the White House to advance AI and for concrete funding to achieve these goals. Deeper public-private- academic collaboration is proposed for developing a responsible regulatory structure or enabling the vast troves of government data to serve the general public. As to the growing need for workers skilled in new technologies – is this achieved through incentivizing computer science studies, perhaps ensuring immigration policies allow American companies to brain gain global talent? On workforce and broader society questions, the balancing act between infusing technology into the national culture via “computational or algorithmic thinking” and orienting toward broader sociotechnological priorities is shifting. Introducing computer science foundational curriculum in K-12 education could increase technological accessibility across all socio-economic layers of our society – and so could gaming – but we need a clear path for converting that fundamental knowledge into economically productive applications.