S. Congressional Oversight - Past, Present, & Future

After briefly reviewing the historic basis for the function of congressional oversight, the course will review and discuss the sources and applications of congressional powers and tools for oversight; constitutional, statutory, rule and other limits to the power of Congress to conduct oversight; the rights and duties of those subject to congressional oversight; parallel proceedings when oversight occurs with criminal or federal agency investigations; and study special oversight functions, such as impeachment and special commissions. Classes will involve reviewing actual congressional oversight investigations and hearings (e.g., Teapot Dome, House Unamerican Affairs Committee, Watergate, Clinton Impeachment, Trump Impeachments, 9/11 Commission) and the legal, strategic and ethical issues raised in those proceedings. When appropriate, there will be a guest or two (e.g. Member of Congress, subject of an oversight inquiry).