Reading Room Document

Congressional Authority to Modify an Executive Agreement Settling Claims Against Iran

Congress has plenary authority to modify or abrogate preexisting executive agreements or treaties for domestic law purposes, and could thus pass legislation reviving tort claims of American hostages and their families against Iran that might be extinguished by an executive agreement with Iran. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/22406/download.

November 13, 1980