Intelligence Agencies/Activity Archives

Facial Recognition Technology and Law Enforcement: Select Constitutional Considerations (CRS R46541)

Facial recognition technology (FRT) is a biometric technology that compares two or more images of faces to determine whether they represent the same individual. Automated FRT is increasingly used by law enforcement to help identify criminal suspects and other persons of interest. Law enforcement may use FRT and associated image databases to compare and match … Read more

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)

Rushed Debate on Federal Spying Powers Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 1978. FISA provides a statutory framework for government agencies to obtain authorization to gather foreign intelligence by means of (1) electronic surveillance, (2) physical searches, (3) pen registers and trap and trace (PR/TT) devices (which record or decode … Read more

Recent CRS Reports

How Legislation Is Brought to the House Floor: A Snapshot of Parliamentary Practice in the 112th Congress (2011-2012), CRS Report R43039, April 15, 2013 (14-page PDF)
The STOCK Act, Insider Trading, and Public Financial Reporting by Federal Officials, CRS Report R42495, April 12, 2013 (13-page PDF)
Trends in Discretionary Spending, CRS Report RL34424, April 15, 2013 (38-page PDF)
Secret Sessions of the House and Senate: Authority, Confidentiality, and Frequency, CRS Report R42106, March 15, 2013 (11-page PDF)

Gang of Four (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Gang of Four “Gang of Four” intelligence notifications generally are oral briefings of certain particularly sensitive non-covert action intelligence activities, including principally, but not exclusively, intelligence collection programs, that the intelligence community typically limits to the chairmen and ranking members of the two congressional intelligence … Read more

“Top Secret America” — Washington Post thinking?

I’ve been wondering why the Washington Post spent two years putting together the story that it rolled out this week — “Top Secret America.” The report essentially covers the world of classified contracting, and it was delivered with the fanfare that the Post usually reserves for a Woodward exclusive or a big, deep scandal. . … Read more

The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 4 (Fourth Amendment – Search and Seizure)

The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 4 (Amendments 1-10 are known as the Bill Of Rights) (4th Amendment) Amendment IV. (Search and Seizure) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon … Read more

The Constitution of the United States, Article. III. Section. 3. Treason

The United States Constitution Article. III. (The Judicial Branch) Section. 3. (Treason) Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, … Read more

The Constitution of the United States, Article. II. Section. 2. Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments

The United States Constitution Article. II. (The Executive Branch) Section. 2. (Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments) The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may … Read more

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