Constitution Index · H.Res. 34 · 2025-01-13

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.

Latest official status (2025-01-13): Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Official source ↗

Constitutional grade

A

Constitutional

This resolution expresses a non-binding sense of the House that the NSA's bulk telephone records program was unconstitutional and that charges against Edward Snowden should be dropped. As a non-binding resolution, it does not itself exercise any government power, infringe any rights, or take any property. It merely states an opinion. Therefore, it passes all constitutional checks with no violations.

Article I, Section 1 Amendment I Amendment X Amendment V

SI-generated grade · passed automated checks (real Constitution citation, language rules) · not individually reviewed by a person · methodology · Report an error: hello@valuesforamerica.com

The five checks

Enumerated powers · passes

The resolution is a non-binding 'sense of the House' measure. Article I, Section 1 vests legislative powers in Congress, and the House has inherent authority to adopt resolutions expressing its views. No enumerated power is exceeded because the resolution does not compel any action or expenditure. Severity: none.

Bill of Rights · passes

The resolution does not restrict speech, press, assembly, religion, or any other right protected by the Bill of Rights. It merely expresses an opinion. The First Amendment protects the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, and this resolution is itself an exercise of that right by the House. No infringement occurs. Severity: none.

Individual liberty · passes

The resolution imposes no restriction on any individual's person, property, speech, labor, or belief. It does not command, prohibit, or penalize any conduct. Individual sovereignty is fully preserved. Severity: none.

Decentralization · passes

This is a non-binding resolution that does not consolidate any decision-making authority. It does not preempt state or local action, nor does it impose any requirement on individuals. The Tenth Amendment is not implicated because no federal power is exercised. Severity: none.

Due process and takings · passes

The resolution does not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, nor does it take any property for public use. It does not bypass any procedural or substantive due process protections. The Fifth Amendment is not implicated. Severity: none.

Provenance

Grade ID
790
Rubric version
vfa-constitutional-grade/1.0
Graded
2026-10-13 22:20 UTC
Engine
backup SI engine
Source fetched
2026-10-10 06:07 UTC
Source SHA-256
5c4dc2f2dcd8db2a1cdb337764311ac17133e937a3bc675f47e359fba6046e7b
Checks
si-editorial-standard/1.0: real Constitution citation, language rules

Version history · never overwritten

GradeGradedRubric Source hashStatus
A · #790 2026-10-13 vfa-constitutional-grade/1.0 5c4dc2f2dcd8 current

Cite this

Values for America. “Constitutional grade: H.Res. 34, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden..” VFA Constitution Index, grade 790 (rubric vfa-constitutional-grade/1.0), graded October 13, 2026. https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution-index/grades/790. Accessed 2026-10-20.

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