| Open
Government Since 9/11
Since
9/11, a mantle of secrecy has enveloped the executive branch, largely
with the acquiescence of Congress and the courts. The administration’s
insistence on secrecy has made effective oversight impossible, upsetting
the constitutional system of checks and balances at a time when
the executive branch is accruing vast new powers. History has demonstrated
that periods of national emergency pose the greatest threat to the
constitutional order, as judges and legislators abdicate their traditional
roles and more easily endorse executive violations of basic rights
that would be unimaginable during times of peace. But it is precisely
at such moments that the legislature and judiciary must defend their
constitutional authority and serve as guardians of democracy, ensuring
that the balance between liberty and security is properly struck.
For background, read
Chapter 1: “Open Government” in “Imbalance of
Powers: How Changes to U.S. Law & Policy Since 9/11 Erode Human
Rights and Civil Liberties”
USA PATRIOT II: Background
USA PATRIOT Act
The
Freedom of Information Act
The
Federal Advisory Committee Act
Whistleblower
Protection
LCHR
Recommendations on Open Government |
