United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Select committee
Active

United States Senate
118th Congress
History
FormedMay 19, 1976
SucceededChurch Committee
Leadership
ChairMark Warner (D)
Since February 3, 2021
Vice chairMarco Rubio (R)
Since February 3, 2021
Structure
Seats17 members
Political partiesMajority (9)
  •   Democratic (8)
  •   Independent (1)
Minority (8)
Jurisdiction
Purposeto "oversee and make continuing studies of the intelligence activities and programs of the United States Government"
Oversight authorityUnited States Intelligence Community
House counterpartHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Meeting place
211 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Website
intelligence.senate.gov
Rules
The US Senate Report on CIA Detention Interrogation Program that details the use of torture during CIA detention and interrogation.

The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (sometimes referred to as the Intelligence Committee or SSCI) is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States that provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The Committee was established in 1976 by the 94th Congress.[1]

The Committee is "select" in that membership is temporary and rotated among members of the chamber.[2] The committee comprises 15 members. Eight of those seats are reserved for one majority and one minority member of each of the following committees: Appropriations, Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Judiciary.[3] Of the remaining seven, four are members of the majority, and three are members of the minority.[3] In addition, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader are non-voting ex officio members of the committee.[3] Also, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services (if not already a member of the select Committee) are ex officio members.[4]

As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Committee performs an annual review of the intelligence budget submitted by the president and prepares legislation authorizing appropriations for the various civilian and military agencies and departments comprising the intelligence community. These entities include the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, as well as the intelligence-related components of Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Energy.

The Committee makes recommendations to the Senate Armed Services Committee on authorizations for the intelligence-related components of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. The Committee also conducts periodic investigations, audits, and inspections of intelligence activities and programs.

  1. ^ Snider, L. Britt (2008). The Agency & The Hill: CIA's Relationship with Congress, 1946-2004, Chapter 2 (PDF). CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2008.
  2. ^ Kaiser, Frederick (September 16, 2008). "Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Current Structure and Alternatives". Congressional Research Service. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Committee on Intelligence" from Riddick's Senate Procedure
  4. ^ "Rules of Procedure" (PDF). U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.

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