As arbiter of the constitutionality of executive actions, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) possesses vast authority over the operation of the federal government and is one of the primary vessels for the articulation of executive power. It therefore is not surprising that the OLC has found itself at the center of controversy across Democratic and Republican administrations. OLC opinions have justified the obstruction of valid congressional investigations, the targeted killing of an American citizen overseas, repeated military incursions without congressional approval, and, most infamously, torture.

中文翻译：

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对法律顾问办公室的间接限制

作为行政行为合宪性的仲裁者，司法部法律顾问办公室（OLC）对联邦政府的运作拥有巨大的权力，是表达行政权力的主要工具之一。因此，OLC 发现自己处于民主党和共和党政府之间争议的中心也就不足为奇了。OLC 的意见证明了阻碍有效的国会调查、有针对性地杀害海外美国公民、未经国会批准反复进行军事入侵以及最臭名昭著的酷刑是合理的。