§3109 Significant interpretations of law concerning intelligence activities

Summary

Top lawyers at each intelligence agency must send a written notice to the congressional intelligence committees within 30 days after starting any intelligence activity that relies on a major reading of the Constitution or federal law. They must do this unless telling Congress would likely reveal classified secrets about sensitive sources, methods, or other very sensitive matters. The notice must give a short summary of the legal reading and the activity done under it. No notice is needed if the same legal reading was already told to the committees or if the reading was made before July 7, 2014. If the President limits who can see a covert action finding, the President can also limit which members of Congress get the notice to only those who already have access to that finding.