The Hill News

We have spent a significant amount of time in the opening days of this Congress discussing the Constitution, so it might be worthwhile to note that there is nothing in the Constitution empowering Congress to make investigations and exact testimony. Of course, today we more or less take that power for granted as necessary for the work of the legislative branch.

But the history of such investigations is not always a proud one.

The very first Congressional investigation occurred in 1792 inquiring into the defeat of Gen. St. Clair and his army by Native Americans in what is now Ohio. Of course the investigation should have been into why St. Clair, who was also the Governor of the territory, was attempting to expel the Native Americans from their home lands and turn the land over to White settlers. 

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