The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases April 12, 2011
A statutory limit on total federal debt has been in place since 1917. In the past decade, Congress has voted to raise the debt limit ten times and it will…
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In Search of “Unfettered Access” to CRS Reports April 7, 2011
Members of the public enjoy unrestricted access to all reports of the Congressional Research Service, according to the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James H. Billington. “Though CRS has no direct…
Read moreMilitary Justice, State Secrets, and More from CRS April 7, 2011
Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “Military Justice: Courts-Martial, An Overview,” March…
Read moreCRS Views Decline of Central American Security April 4, 2011
Violent instability in Central America poses a growing threat to the countries of the region, with direct and indirect consequences for the United States, according to a new report…
Read moreSix Days of Odyssey Dawn (Libya) Cost $400 Million March 30, 2011
The first six days of Odyssey Dawn, the US war in Libya, cost an estimated $400 million, according to a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. “Using…
Read moreNo-Fly Zones: Considerations for Congress March 24, 2011
The decision to impose a no-fly zone on Libya is scrutinized from various perspectives in a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. The report distinguishes “authorization” to…
Read moreInstances of Use of US Forces Abroad, More from CRS March 16, 2011
U.S. military forces have been deployed in military conflicts abroad hundreds of times over the past two centuries — not including covert actions or training exercises. An updated tabulation is…
Read moreLaw Enforcement Use of GPS Devices, and More from CRS March 10, 2011
When law enforcement agencies use a Global Positioning System device to track the motor vehicle of a potential suspect, is that a “search” that is subject to constitutional protections under…
Read moreNumber of DoD Contractors in Afghanistan at a Record High March 6, 2011
The number of private security contractors employed by the Department of Defense in Afghanistan has reached a new record high, according to DoD statistics in a recently updated report…
Read morePublic Access to CRS Reports Urged March 2, 2011
Dozens of public interest groups wrote to the Librarian of Congress last week to urge him to appoint a new Director of the Congressional Research Service who would work with…
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