Congress’s ability to scrutinise the executive branch rests on fragile norms
IN 1924, a Senate committee investigating the Teapot Dome bribery scandal issued a subpoena to Mal Daugherty, a bank president and brother of Harry Daugherty, who would soon resign as attorney-general. When Mal failed to appear, the Senate dispatched its deputy sergeant-at-arms to Ohio to arrest him. Daugherty challenged his arrest, arguing that the Senate had exceeded its authority. The Supreme Court disagreed.
Congress can charge people who ignore subpoenas with contempt, which requires a majority vote in a single chamber. Enforcing that charge is trickier. The days of apprehension by the sergeant-at-arms followed by detention are over; that power has not been used since 1935, when a Hoover administration official was held at the Willard hotel.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump GOP primary challenger: 'If Donald Trump is an American patriot, he should resign'Republican presidential candidate Bill Weld called on President Donald Trump to resign Wednesday, writing in an op-ed that the country would be 'better served with a President Mike Pence.'
Read more »
Donald Trump and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finally agree on something—sort ofIt is unlikely Ocasio-Cortez will welcome the president telling her she was 'correct' about her comments on veterans' health care, however.
Read more »
Donald Trump steps up pressure on Venezuela, Cuba and NicaraguaDonald Trump has instituted a raft of measures meant to help topple the left-wing regimes of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua
Read more »
Jeremy Corbyn refuses invite from the Queen to attend banquet with 'racist and misogynistic' Donald TrumpThe Labour Party leader says the United Kingdom should not be 'rolling out the red carpet' for US President Trump.
Read more »
Donald Trump Admits He Made Barack Obama 'Wire Tapping' Claim Based On 'Bit Of A Hunch'President Donald Trump stunned many in March 2017 when he accused formerPresident Barack Obama of 'wire tapping' Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign
Read more »
Donald Trump: Inspector General’s “blockbuster” FISA report will be “bigger than Watergate”President Donald Trump made the claim about Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz’s report into his review of the FBI’s use of FISA warrants to Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Read more »
Joe Biden laughs at Trump's 'Sleepy Joe' tweet questioning his intelligence: 'Everybody knows Donald Trump'“Welcome to the race Sleepy Joe. I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign,' the president tweeted.
Read more »