Individuals can invoke the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination to refuse to testify before investigatory bodies, including congressional committees.
October 28, 2025
high
temporal
Constitutional privilege used in oversight and investigatory proceedings.
Congressional committees commonly take depositions and record multiple hours of witness testimony as part of oversight and investigatory processes.
October 28, 2025
high
temporal
Oversight investigations typically involve interviews, depositions, and recorded testimony from witnesses.
Individuals subpoenaed by congressional committees can invoke the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to decline to answer questions.
October 21, 2025
high
temporal
Legal principle governing testimony before congressional investigations.
U.S. congressional committees have the authority to issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify and to compel the production of documents.
high
legal
Congressional oversight and investigative powers.
A letter requesting documents is a voluntary, non‑binding request if the requestor lacks unilateral subpoena authority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
procedural
Describes the legal/oversight effect of lacking unilateral subpoena power in congressional inquiries.
Federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can conduct investigations and compliance reviews of universities for compliance with federal civil rights laws.
high
procedural
Federal enforcement and compliance processes for civil rights requirements applicable to educational institutions that receive federal funds.
A witness questioned by a congressional committee may invoke the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to decline to answer questions during a deposition or hearing.
high
legal
Constitutional right available to witnesses in legislative investigations and legal proceedings.