This amendment substitutes the Government for the party defendant in place of the telephone companies. It is designed to maintain some check and balance on the executive because Congress has been totally ineffective to do so. It accomplishes both purposes. It keeps the program going to gain intelligence information necessary for national defense, but it maintains the courts being open as a check and balance.
Discussing an amendment related to government oversight and intelligence gathering.
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More from Arlen Specter
Congressional legislation 'doesn't amount to anything if the president can say, 'My constitutional authority supersedes the statute.'
The reason we serve is to ensure our children and our children's children inherit the same great country that we received from those who went before us.
The reason we serve is to ensure that our children and our children's children inherit the same great country that we received from those who went before us.
Senator Specter cited just one. It was his vote against confirming Jeff Sessions as a Federal judge.
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