Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community: Selected Congressional Notification Requirements in Brief
Abstract
Section 3091 of Title 50, U. S. Code requires the President of the United States to ensure that the congressional intelligence committees are kept fully and currently informed of the intelligence activities of the United States, including any significant anticipated intelligence activity, significant intelligence failures, illegal intelligence activities, and financial intelligence activities. In fulfilling this statutory requirement, the President must notify Congress of all covert actions and significant clandestine activities of the Intelligence Community (IC). Congresss interest in being kept informed of these activities originated from instances in the 1970s when media disclosure of past intelligence abuses during times of relatively benign congressional oversight underscored the importance of Congress taking a more active role. Over time, these notification requirements were written into statute or became customary. Covert action is codified in Title 50, U.S. Code as an activity or activities of the United States Government to influence political, economic, or military conditions abroad, where it is intended that the role of the United States will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly. The term clandestine describes a methodology used for a range of sensitive intelligence and military activitiesconducted under Title 10 or Title 50 U.S. Code authorityin which the activity itself, as well as U.S. sponsorship, is secret. Congresss particular interest in these activities is, in part, due to the characteristics that they have in common: they involve particularly sensitive sources and methods, have significant implications for U.S. foreign relations, and incur serious risk of damage to U.S. national security or loss of life in the event of exposure or compromise. Different committees exercise oversight jurisdiction depending upon how a particular activity is defined and the statutory authority under which it is conducted.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 02, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1171944
Entities
People
- Michael E. Devine
Organizations
- Library of Congress