Congressional Research Service Reports - 3,025 Matching Results
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- The State Secrets Privilege: Preventing the Disclosure of Sensitive National Security Information During Civil Litigation
- This report presents an overview of the protections afforded by the state secrets privilege; a discussion of some of the many unresolved issues associated with the privilege; and a selection of high-profile examples of how the privilege has been applied in practice.
- Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Has It Been Utilized?
- Report concerning multilateral and bilateral Status of Force Agreements (SOFAs). Topics include the common traits of SOFAs, historical examples, and current examples.
- Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Has It Been Utilized?
- Multilateral and bilateral agreements addressing the status of U.S. armed forces abroad are commonly referred to as Status of Force Agreements (SOFAs). SOFAs establish the framework under which military personnel operate in a foreign country. The United States is currently party to more than 100 agreements that may be considered SOFAs. A list of current agreements included at the end of this report is categorized in tables according to the underlying source of authority, if any, for each of the SOFAs.
- Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Has It Been Utilized?
- This report discusses the provisions of multilateral and bilateral agreements addressing the status of U.S. armed forces abroad, which are commonly referred to as Status of Force Agreements (SOFA), and provides a survey of current SOFAs.
- Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Has It Been Utilized?
- The deadly attacks on Afghan civilians allegedly by a U.S. service member have raised questions regarding the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in place between the United States and Afghanistan that would govern whether Afghan law would apply in this circumstance. In the case of Afghanistan, the SOFA, in force since 2003, provides that U.S. Department of Defense military and civilian personnel are to be accorded status equivalent to that of U.S. Embassy administrative and technical staff under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations of 1961. Accordingly, U.S. personnel are immune from criminal prosecution by Afghan authorities and are immune from civil and administrative jurisdiction except with respect to acts performed outside the course of their duties. Under the existing SOFA, the United States would have jurisdiction over the prosecution of the service member who allegedly attacked the Afghan civilians.
- Statutory Restrictions on the Position of Secretary of Defense: Issues for Congress
- This report is designed to assist Congress as it considers how to proceed with the proposed nomination of General (Ret.) James Mattis to be Secretary of Defense. After exploring the history of the statutory restriction and its evolution over time, it touches upon some of the broader questions that have recently been raised in the public debate on whether, and how, this proposed nomination might impact civilian-military relations and the principle of civilian control of the military.
- Strategic Airlift Modernization: Analysis of C-5 Modernization and C-17 Acquisition Issues
- This report discusses an issue currently before Congress regarding the appropriate size of strategic airlift fleet. There is a consensus among policy makers that the Department of Defense (DOD) must maintain a robust and effective strategic airlift fleet.
- Strategic Arms Control After START: Issues and Options
- The United States and Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in 1991; it entered into force in December 1994 and is due to expire in December 2009. The United States and Russia have held several meetings to discuss options for continuing their arms control relationship. This report provides background information about the START Treaty and reviews the discussions about a possible successor to START. It also presents a range of alternatives that the United States and Russia might consider if they choose to follow START with a new framework for the arms control process.
- Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)
- No Description Available.
- Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START I and II): Verification and Compliance Issues
- The U.S. and Russia signed START II on January 3, 1993. START II relies on the START I verification regime, with a few additional inspections. When the Senate approved START II's ratification on January 26, 1996, it included several conditions and declarations relating to verification and compliance in the resolution of ratification. The Russian Duma resumed its consideration of START II in February 1996; some members met with Secretary of Defense Perry to discuss the treaty in October 1996.
- The Strategic Defense Initiative: Issues for Phase 1 Deployment
- No Description Available.
- The Strategic Defense Initiative: Issues for Phase 1 Deployment
- No Description Available.
- The Strategic Defense Initiative: Program Facts
- No Description Available.
- The Strategic Defense Initiative: Program Facts
- No Description Available.
- Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): Mission Objectives for Directing the Program
- No Description Available.
- Strategic Defense Initiative: Selected References, 1986-1988
- No Description Available.
- Strategic Mobility Innovation: Options and Oversight Issues
- No Description Available.
- The Stuxnet Computer Worm: Harbinger of an Emerging Warfare Capability
- In September 2010, media reports emerged about a new form of cyber attack that appeared to target Iran, although the actual target, if any, is unknown. This report discusses this cyber attack, a malicious software program known as Stuxnet, which infected computer systems that were used to control the functioning of a nuclear power plant. Once inside the system, Stuxnet had the ability to degrade or destroy the software on which it operated. Although early reports focused on the impact on facilities in Iran, researchers discovered that the program had spread throughout multiple countries worldwide.
- Supplemental Appropriations for FY2002: Defense Readiness and Other Programs
- No Description Available.
- Supplemental Appropriations FY2003: Iraq Conflict, Afghanistan, Global War on Terrorism, and Homeland Security
- No Description Available.
- Supplemental Appropriations FY2003: Iraq Conflict, Afghanistan, Global War on Terrorism, and Homeland Security
- No Description Available.
- Suspension of Budget Enforcement Procedures During Hostilities Abroad
- Federal budget policies are enforced by two major statutes—the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The first act establishes the congressional budget process, involving the annual adoption of a budget resolution; the second act establishes discretionary spending limits and a “pay-as-you-go” (PAYGO) requirement, enforced by sequestration.
- Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues
- No Description Available.
- Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues
- No Description Available.
- Syria's Chemical Weapons: Continuing Challenges
- This report discusses Syria's chemical weapon supplies, efforts to have them destroyed, recent uses of chemical weapons there, and issues related to undeclared chemical weapon stocks.
- Syria's Chemical Weapons: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the history and current state of Syria's chemical and biological weapon programs and possible U.S. government programs that could be used to dismantle stockpiles if the Assad regime were to collapse.
- Syria's Chemical Weapons: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the history and current state of Syria's chemical and biological weapon programs and possible U.S. government programs that could be used to dismantle stockpiles if the Assad regime were to collapse.
- Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Technology Transfer And National Security Issues
- No Description Available.
- Terminal Operators and Their Role in U.S. Port and Maritime Security
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Foreign Policy Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of transnational security issues related to patterns of interaction among international terrorist and crime groups. In addition, the report discusses the U.S. government's perception of and response to the threat. It concludes with an analysis of foreign policy options.
- Terrorism: Background on Chemical, Biological, and Toxin Weapons and Options for Lessening Their Impact
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism in Southeast Asia
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism in Southeast Asia
- No Description Available.