DRONES Act

To require an adequate process in preplanned lethal operations that deliberately target citizens of the United States or citizens of strategic treaty allies of the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Designating Requirements On Notification of Executive-ordered Strikes Act DRONES Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (2) Preplanned lethal operation The term preplanned lethal operation (3) Strategic treaty ally The term strategic treaty ally 3. Scope of Act (a) Covered entities This Act applies to all Federal departments and agencies and the Armed Forces. (b) Covered preplanned lethal operations This Act only applies to preplanned lethal operations that deliberately target a citizen of the United States or a citizen of a strategic treaty ally of the United States. 4. Limitation on preplanned lethal operations targeting United States citizens or citizens of strategic treaty allies (a) Limitation A Federal department or agency or the Armed Forces may not deliberately target a citizen of the United States or a citizen of a strategic treaty ally of the United States in a preplanned lethal operation unless the preplanned lethal operation is planned and executed pursuant to a written determination signed personally by the President— (1) confirming the status of the targeted citizen as an enemy combatant; and (2) authorizing the deliberate lethal targeting of the citizen based on an articulated need for the use of such lethal force. (b) Congressional notification Not later than 30 days after making a determination under subsection (a), the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, in classified form if necessary— (1) certifying that the timing and details of the preplanned lethal operation were approved personally by the President; and (2) describing in detail— (A) the information used to determine that the targeted citizen is an enemy combatant; and (B) the reasons why the use of lethal force was necessary. (c) Delegation The President may not delegate— (1) the final determination of enemy combatant status; and (2) the final approval of timing and details of the execution of the preplanned lethal operation. 5. Prohibition on preplanned lethal operations inside the territory of the United States Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any Federal department or agency or the Armed Forces to deliberately target a citizen of the United States or a citizen of a strategic treaty ally in a preplanned lethal operation inside the territory of the United States or any location under the jurisdiction of the United States.

Summary: Designating Requirements On Notification of Executive-ordered Strikes Act or the DRONES Act Prohibits a federal department or agency or the Armed Forces from deliberately targeting a citizen of the United States or of a strategic treaty ally in a pre-planned lethal operation unless such operation is planned and executed pursuant to a written determination signed personally by the President: (1) confirming the status of the targeted citizen as an enemy combatant, and (2) authorizing the deliberate lethal targeting based on an articulated need for the use of lethal force. Requires the President, within 30 days after making such a determination, to submit a report to specified congressional committees: (1) certifying that the timing and details of the operation were approved personally by the President, and (2) detailing the information used to determine that the targeted citizen is an enemy combatant and the reasons why lethal force was necessary. Prohibits this Act from being construed to authorize such lethal targeting of such a citizen inside any location under U.S. jurisdiction.