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Trait 7
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Apr 17, 2026 Congress passed a 10-day extension of FISA Section 702 Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The short extension preserved a major surveillance authority while postponing a deeper legislative fight over privacy safeguards.
Supporting reports
- US Congress Passes 10-Day Extension of Surveillance Law — On April 17, 2026, both chambers of the US Congress passed a 10-day extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) section 702, a controversial warrantless surveillance law.
Apr 16, 2026 The House of Representatives rejected a war powers resolution on Iran by one vote Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The failure left the executive with broader room to continue military action, underscoring weak legislative control over war powers.
Supporting reports
- US House Rejects War Powers Resolution on Iran — On Thursday, the US House of Representatives narrowly rejected a war powers resolution aimed at preventing further military action against Iran.
- War Powers Resolution to Block Iran War Fails in House — The War Powers Resolution intended to block President Trump's continuation of Operation Epic Fury in Iran failed in the House of Representatives by a narrow vote of 213-214.
Apr 15, 2026 Republican lawmakers proposed impeaching judges whose rulings they opposed Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The proposal threatened judicial independence by treating disagreement with court decisions as grounds for removal.
Supporting reports
- Republicans propose impeachment of judges — A group of Republican lawmakers has proposed the impeachment of certain judges whose rulings they disagree with.
Apr 15, 2026 President Trump announced a ceasefire framework with Iran after unilateral escalation Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The announcement showed the executive making and revising major war decisions with limited congressional control, stressing checks on military power.
Supporting reports
- Trump Declares Ceasefire and Framework for Agreement with Iran — President Trump announced a ceasefire and proposed a framework for an agreement with Iran after escalating tensions led to military action and a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
- — President Trump announced a ceasefire and proposed a framework for an agreement with Iran after escalating tensions led to military actions in the region.
Apr 14, 2026 Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales submitted their resignations from Congress Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The departures changed House representation and showed misconduct allegations producing immediate institutional turnover.
Supporting reports
- Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resign from Congress — Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell and Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales submitted their resignations to the House of Representatives amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Apr 13, 2026 Representative Tony Gonzales announced his resignation from Congress amid an ethics investigation Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The resignation changed representation in the House and showed misconduct pressure forcing a member from office.
Supporting reports
- Tony Gonzales announces resignation from Congress — Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, announced his resignation from Congress amid an expulsion threat following an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Apr 13, 2026 The Center for Biological Diversity and Democracy Defenders Fund filed FOIA lawsuits against OMB and several agencies Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The suits alleged delayed or denied records access, underscoring barriers to public knowledge about executive programs and decisions.
Supporting reports
- Complaint filed — Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Office of Management and Budget — The Center for Biological Diversity filed a complaint against the U.S.
- Complaint filed — Democracy Defenders Fund v. Department of Homeland Security — On April 13, 2026, the Democracy Defenders Fund, a nonpartisan nonprofit, and Colombo Hurd PL, an immigration law firm, filed a complaint in the U.S.
Apr 12, 2026 Congress and state officials moved toward expulsion proceedings against Eric Swalwell Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The effort showed legislative accountability mechanisms being used against a member facing serious misconduct allegations.
Supporting reports
- Bipartisan Move to Expel Eric Swalwell from Congress — A bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to expel Democratic US Representative Eric Swalwell following allegations of inappropriate behavior, sexual assault, and rape.
Apr 11, 2026 The Trump administration fired immigration judges who had blocked student deportations Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The firings threatened adjudicative independence in immigration cases and increased pressure on decisions affecting noncitizens' rights and campus-linked dissent.
Supporting reports
- Immigration Judges Fired for Blocking Deportations — The Trump administration abruptly fired two immigration judges who had blocked the deportations of students Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi.
- Immigration judges fired after blocking deportation of pro-Palestinian students — The Department of Justice has terminated six immigration judges, including Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, who had ruled against the Trump administration in deportation cases involving pro-Palestinian students Rümeysa
Apr 11, 2026 President Trump granted clemency to former Representative George Santos Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The commutation reduced accountability for a politically connected ally and raised concerns about using pardon power for personal or factional ends.
Supporting reports
- Trump grants clemency to former US representative George Santos — Donald Trump granted clemency to former US representative George Santos, who had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft.
Apr 11, 2026 President Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao Corroborated Power and Authority
The pardon weakened the force of prior financial enforcement and showed executive clemency being used to override accountability in a politically charged policy area.
Supporting reports
- Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao, Binance founder — In October 2025, Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who had been sentenced to four months in prison for failing to maintain an anti-money laundering program.
Apr 11, 2026 President Trump reportedly planned mass pardons for close advisers Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The reported plan suggested preemptive use of pardon power to shield insiders, testing whether executive authority would be used to blunt future accountability.
Supporting reports
- Trump reportedly plans mass pardons at end of term — Reports have emerged that Donald Trump plans to issue mass pardons to his closest advisers at the end of his second presidential term.