Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
Encyclopedia
The Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR) is a staff agency within the United States Department of Justice
.
This government agency handles all Justice Department requests for surveillance authorizations under the terms of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, advises the Attorney General
and Intelligence Community
, on legal issues relating to national security and surveillance, and, according to the agency website, "coordinates" the views of the Intelligence Community regarding intelligence legislation. The staff counsel has often testified before Congress on behalf of Clinton and Bush administration intelligence policies, and most recently has defended the USA PATRIOT Act
before the House Judiciary Committee
.
Since 2002 the agency Counsel has been James A. Baker
, a career government attorney who began work with the OIPR in 1996. He succeeded Frances Townsend
when she was appointed to a political post with the National Security Council
.
Under recently passed legislation, OIPR will cease to be an independent office within the Department of Justice and will move to the Department's new National Security Division
under the control of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
.
This government agency handles all Justice Department requests for surveillance authorizations under the terms of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, advises the Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
and Intelligence Community
United States Intelligence Community
The United States Intelligence Community is a cooperative federation of 16 separate United States government agencies that work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities considered necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the...
, on legal issues relating to national security and surveillance, and, according to the agency website, "coordinates" the views of the Intelligence Community regarding intelligence legislation. The staff counsel has often testified before Congress on behalf of Clinton and Bush administration intelligence policies, and most recently has defended the USA PATRIOT Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
before the House Judiciary Committee
United States House Committee on the Judiciary
The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
.
Since 2002 the agency Counsel has been James A. Baker
James A. Baker (government attorney)
James A. Baker is an American government official at the Department of Justice, serving as Counsel for the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review. He came under criticism in 2004 for not revealing the failure of the National Security Agency surveillance program.- Personal :James A. Baker is a...
, a career government attorney who began work with the OIPR in 1996. He succeeded Frances Townsend
Frances Townsend
Frances M. Fragos Townsend is the former Homeland Security Advisor to United States President George W. Bush and TV personality. Townsend was appointed to this position by President Bush on May 28, 2004. Her resignation was announced November 19, 2007...
when she was appointed to a political post with the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
.
Under recently passed legislation, OIPR will cease to be an independent office within the Department of Justice and will move to the Department's new National Security Division
United States Department of Justice National Security Division
The United States Department of Justice National Security Division is the division of the DOJ that handles all national security functions of the Department. Created by the 2005 USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization, the Division consolidated all of the Department's national security and intelligence...
under the control of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security.