Executive power, intelligence and the fate of democracy in the United States: reflections on the Church Committee in celebration of its 50 th anniversary

In December of 1974, the New York Times charged the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with spying on American citizens via Operation CHAOS. In response, the Church Committee, led by Senator Frank Church of Idaho, pursued an investigation into the intelligence services of the United States. The committee confirmed the Times reporting and documented several more abuses of power by the intelligence community. Three core principles guided the investigation: bipartisanship, fact-finding and the rule of law. The 16-month probe (1975–1976) led to a new era of intelligence accountability in the United States, with the creation of a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Some have praised this initiative, while others view the outcome as misguided micromanaging by the nation’s lawmakers. These arguments are explored in this essay, on the 50th Anniversary of the investigation.