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Article: Executive Privilege
- Article from:
- West's Encyclopedia of American Law
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EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE
The right of the president of the United States to withhold information from Congress or the courts.
Historically, presidents have claimed the right of executive privilege when they have information they want to keep confidential, either because it would jeopardize national security or because disclosure would be contrary to the interests of the executive branch.
The Constitution does not specifically enumerate the president's right to executive privilege; rather, the concept has evolved over the years as presidents have claimed it. As the courts have ruled on these claims, their decisions have refined the notion of executive privilege and have clarified the ...