Prerequisite: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This reading group will look at a vitally important non-legislative role of Congress: investigation and oversight. From the McCarthy hearings to Watergate, through Iran Contra and 9/11, and more recently Benghazi and the federal Trump prosecutions, Congress has made assertive use of its power. The class will look at the law and developing practice revealed by Congressional hearings, and consider the trajectory of legislative purpose, public value, and political salience that these case studies provide.

Note: This reading group will meet on the following dates: 1/28, 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 4/1, and 4/15.