{
  "id": "RL33265",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL33265",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "id": 439129,
      "date": "2015-03-11",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:23:29.961771",
      "title": "Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority: The Logan Act",
      "summary": "The Logan Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 953, states:\nAny citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.\nThis section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.\nThe Logan Act was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. There appear to have been no prosecutions under the act in its more than 200-year history. However, there have been a number of judicial references to the act, and it is not uncommon for it to be used as a point of challenge concerning dealings with foreign officials\nThere has been renewed interest in the Logan Act in 2015 as the result of a letter signed by 47 U.S. Senators to Iran suggesting that negotiations about a nuclear deal between the President and the Iranian leadership would be an executive agreement that another President or Congress would be able to abrogate. Some have raised questions about the constitutionality of the act, whether it applies to Members of Congress, and its current viability. Commenters have provided arguments that both support and oppose the legality of the Senators\u2019 letter.\nAlthough attempts have been made to repeal the act, it remains law and at least a potential sanction which could be used against anyone who without authority interferes in the foreign relations of the United States.",
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          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 3919,
          "name": "International Law and U.S. Sovereignty"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc505357/",
      "id": "RL33265_2010Jan20",
      "date": "2010-01-20",
      "retrieved": "2015-05-29T05:37:21",
      "title": "Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority: The Logan Act",
      "summary": "This report discusses the Logan Act, which was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments.",
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      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International affairs",
          "name": "International affairs"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International relations -- Law and legislation",
          "name": "International relations -- Law and legislation"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Law",
          "name": "Law"
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs9143/",
      "id": "RL33265 2006-02-01",
      "date": "2006-02-01",
      "retrieved": "2006-08-10T15:04:10",
      "title": "Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority: The Logan Act",
      "summary": "The Logan Act was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. There appear to have been no prosecutions under the Act in its more than 200 year history. However, there have been a number of judicial references to the Act, and it is not uncommon for it to be used as a point of challenge concerning dealings with foreign officials. Although attempts have been made to repeal the Act, it remains law and at least a potential sanction to be used against anyone who without authority interferes in the foreign relations of the United States.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": [
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International affairs",
          "name": "International affairs"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International relations - Law and legislation",
          "name": "International relations - Law and legislation"
        }
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  "topics": [
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    "Foreign Affairs"
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}