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HR 104 111th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Advisory bodies Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Detention of persons Due process and equal protection Government studies and investigations Human rights Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information Military law Presidential administrations Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents Right of privacy Terrorism War and emergency powers

To establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties.

Introduced: January 6, 2009 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 12, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Jan 6, 2009
Referred to House Foreign Affairs
Jan 6, 2009
Referred to House Judiciary
Jan 6, 2009
Referred to House Intelligence (Permanent)
Jan 6, 2009
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 6, 2009
Referred to House Armed Services
Jan 6, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Establishes the National Commission on Presidential War Powers and Civil Liberties to investigate, and report to the President and Congress on, the broad range of policies of the Bush Administration that were undertaken under claims of unreviewable war powers, including: (1) detention by the Armed Forces and the intelligence community; (2) the use by such entities of enhanced interrogation techniques or techniques not authorized by the Uniform Code of Military Justice; (3) "ghosting" or other policies intended to conceal an individual's capture or detention; (4) extraordinary rendition; and (5) domestic warrantless electronic surveillance.

What's happening now June 12, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 104: To establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties.. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-104/
MLA
"H.R. 104: To establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties.." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-104/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 104, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-104/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 104: To establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties.](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-104/)
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