![]() ![]() The House used its investigatory privileges in the First Congress (1789–1791). House convened in 1789, it established an early set of select committees, such as Rules and Ways and Means, to structure the legislative process including investigations. The proudest ministers of the proudest monarchs have trembled at their censures and have appeared at the bar of the house, to give an account of their conduct, and ask pardon for their faults.” When the U.S. James Wilson of Pennsylvania, a future Supreme Court Justice and Convention delegate, wrote in a 1774 essay that members of the Commons were considered “grand inquisitors of the realm. The constitutional framers assumed that Congress would conduct investigations as the British House of Commons conducted them. They must meet frequently to inspect the Conduct of the public offices.” Origins ![]() George Mason of Virginia said at the Federal Convention that Members of Congress “are not only Legislators but they possess inquisitorial powers. ![]() The Constitution says nothing about congressional investigations and oversight, but the authority to conduct investigations is implied since Congress possesses “all legislative powers.” The Supreme Court determined that the framers intended for Congress to seek out information when crafting or reviewing legislation. Ford became the first sitting president since Abraham Lincoln to address a congressional investigating committee on Capitol Hill. Ford testified before a House Judiciary Committee subcommittee to explain his pardon of President Richard M. tiles/non-collection/i/i_origins_invest_ford_lc.xml Image courtesy of the Library of Congress President Gerald R. ![]()
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