Reading Room Document

Constitutionality of the Direct Reporting Requirement in Section 802(e)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007

Section 802(e)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 does not prohibit DHS or OMB officials from reviewing, in accordance with established Executive Branch review and clearance procedures, the DHS Chief Privacy Officer's draft section 802 reports before the reports are transmitted to Congress. Section 802(e)(1) is best interpreted not to prohibit DHS and OMB officials from commenting on a draft CPO report where the CPO is permitted to, and in fact does, transmit to Congress a final report that does not reflect the comments or amendments from such officials. Section 802(e)(1)'s direct reporting requirement need not be enforced in circumstances where its application would require the CPO to ignore the results of the President's review, through DHS and OMB, of a particular report. In such circumstances, the statute must yield to the President's exercise of his constitutional authority to supervise subordinate Executive Branch officers and their communications with Congress. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/477336/download.

January 29, 2008