Title: Congressional access to classified national security information
Description: Congress must have access to information about executive branch activities if it is to carry out its constitutional responsibilities to make laws, appropriate funds, conduct oversight, and confirm agency officials. While few would question the need to safeguard national security information from improper public disclosures that would damage the national interest, the executive branch has repeatedly claimed the authority to withhold such information from Congress as well.
Subjects: Powers and duties, Executive privilege (Government information), Security classification (Government documents), Official secrets, National security, United States. Congress, United States
Places: United States