Congress Oversees the US Intelligence Community, 1947-1994

Foreseeing conflict between the legislative and executive branches over the proper functions of government, the Founders of the United States built into the U. S. Constitution the checks and balances that Edwin S. Corwin called “an invitation to struggle.” Smist argues that congressional intelligence-oversight committees—such as Senator Church’s 1975–76 committee—can, by taking up this struggle, not only handle sensitive information responsibly but help shape rational foreign policy. When C...