行政特權

行政特權（Executive privilege）是美國總統和行政機關的其他成員在某些情況下在行政部門內保持保密通信的權利，立法機關和司法機關如果向這些機密人員發出傳票，美國行政機構可以出面阻止。當披露信息會損害政府職能時，政府就有權這麼做。美國憲法中沒有明確提到行政特權和國會的監督權^[1]。然而美國最高法院裁定，行政特權和國會監督都符合美國憲法中的權力分立精神^[2]。

參考文獻

1. Cox, Archibald. "Executive Privilege" （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Volume 122, page 1384 (1974).
2. Chief Justice Burger, writing for the majority in US v. Nixon noted: "Whatever the nature of the privilege of confidentiality of Presidential communications in the exercise of Art. II powers, the privilege can be said to derive from the supremacy of each branch within its own assigned area of constitutional duties. Certain powers and privileges flow from the nature of enumerated powers; the protection of the confidentiality of Presidential communications has similar constitutional underpinnings. United States v. Nixon （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）, 418 U.S. 683 (1974) (Supreme Court opinion at FindLaw)