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ADVANCE RESERVATION SYSTEM Terms of Use AGREEMENT

1. General.

1.1 The Advance Reservation System (" ARS ") of the United States Capitol Visitor Center is a service provided to the public by the United States Congress to book reservations for tours of the United States Capitol. The ARS is owned and managed by the Office of Visitor Services through the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (" AOC "). This Terms of Use Agreement (" Agreement ") sets forth the legally binding terms for your use of the ARS. By using the ARS you agree to be bound by this Agreement, whether you are a "Visitor" (which means you are browsing the ARS website) or you are a "Member" (which means you have registered as a user of ARS). The term "User" refers to both a Visitor and a Member. You are only authorized to browse this website or use the ARS service (whether your use is intended or unintentional) if you agree to abide by all applicable laws and to this Agreement. Please read this Agreement carefully and save it. If you do not agree with this Agreement you should leave this website and discontinue use of ARS services immediately. If you wish to use this website and make use of the ARS service, you must read this Agreement and indicate your acceptance as outlined below, or during the registration process.

1.2 This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect while you use the ARS website. If you are registered with the ARS you may terminate your registration at any time, for any reason, by following the instructions found on the ARS website. The AOC may terminate your use of the ARS website at any time, without warning and without reason, at no liability.

1.3 The AOC reserves the right, in its discretion, to change or modify all or any part of this Agreement at any time, effective immediately upon notice published on this website. Your use of the website following any change or modification constitutes your binding acceptance of these terms and conditions, including any changes or modifications made by the AOC. If at any time the terms and conditions of this Agreement are no longer acceptable to you, you should immediately cease use of the ARS website.

1.4 You should, at all times, ensure that your contact information is updated with the ARS website. If you need to update any of your online and/or off-line contact information, please follow the instruction on the ARS website.

2. Use of Content.

2.1 You acknowledge that the ARS website contains information, software, photographs, audio and video clips, graphics, links and other material that are owned by the AOC or other United States governmental agencies (collectively, the "Content"). You agree to comply with any notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content available on or accessed through the ARS website. Users of the ARS website may use the Content only for their personal, non-commercial, use.

2.2 You may not modify, publish, transmit, transfer or sell, reproduce, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, or in any way exploit any of the Content, in whole or in part. Content consisting of downloadable software may not be reverse-engineered. You grant to the AOC the right to edit, copy, publish, distribute, translate and otherwise use in any medium and for any purpose any content that you place on the ARS website without compensation to you. You represent and warrant that you are authorized to grant all rights set forth in the preceding sentence.

2.3 You may not download Content on this web site. No copying, storage, redistribution or publication of any Content on the ARS website is permitted.

2.4. Any information you provide to the ARS website may be used by the AOC and the United States Government, without any compensation to you.

3. Rules of Conduct.

3.1 By using the ARS website you agree not to:

(a) Use the ARS website for any unlawful reason, or in a manner prohibited by this Agreement.

(b) Post any content which is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive, harassing or threatening;

(c) Post content which contains viruses or other contaminating or destructive features;

(d) Post content which violates the rights of others, such as content which infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or violates any right of privacy or publicity; or (d) otherwise violates any applicable law or regulation.

(e) Make any part of the ARS website available as part of another service by hyperlink framing, "deep linking" or otherwise. You may not link the ARS website to, or post links on the ARS to, other websites.

(f) Use the ARS website for any commercial purpose, nor shall you distribute any advertising or solicitation of funds or goods and services or solicit users to join competitive online services.

(g) Use any false or inaccurate information for purposes of registering as a user of the ARS website, or for purposes of registering for any promotions offered through the ARS website;

(h) Allow any other person or entity to use your username or password for posting or viewing comments or sending or receiving materials or use the account of another user for any purpose;

(i) Sell or otherwise transfer your user status; or

(j) Delete or revise any material or other information of any other user or the AOC;

(k) Harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses;

(l) Take any action that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the ARS website?s infrastructure;

(m) Use any device, software, or routine to interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the ARS website or any activity being conducted on the ARS website;

(n) Use any engine, software, tool, agent, or other mechanism (including, without limitation, browsers, spiders, robots, avatars, or intelligent agents) to navigate or search the ARS website other than (i) the search engine and search agents available from the AOC on the ARS website and (ii) generally available third party web browsers (e.g., Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer) (if applicable);

(o) Attempt to decipher, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any of the software comprising or in any way making up a part of the ARS website.

You further agree not to violate or attempt to violate the security of the ARS website, including, without limitation, actions such as:

(a) Accessing data not intended for you or logging into a server or account that you are not authorized to access; (b) Attempting to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of a system or network or to breach security or authentication measures without proper authorization; (c) Attempting to interfere with service to any user, host, or network, including, without limitation, by way of submitting a virus to or overloading, "flooding," "spamming," "mail bombing," or "crashing" the ARS website; (d) Sending unsolicited e-mail, including promotions and/or advertising of products or services; or (e) Forging any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any e-mail or posting.

Violations of system or network security may result in civil or criminal liability.

4. Managing Content.

4.1 The AOC is not responsible for any content posted to the ARS website by users. The AOC reserves the right to delete, move or edit any content that it may determine, in its sole discretion, violates or may violate this Agreement or is otherwise unacceptable. You shall remain solely responsible for all content posted by you.

5. No Endorsement.

5.1 The AOC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any content posted on the ARS website and you acknowledge that any reliance upon such content shall be at your sole risk.

5.2 The ARS website may contain links to sites on the Internet, which are owned and operated by third parties (the " External Sites "). You acknowledge that the AOC is not responsible for the availability of, or the content located on or through any External Site. You should contact the site administrator or Webmaster for those External Sites if you have any concerns regarding such links or the content located on such External Sites.

6. Indemnity.

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold the AOC and the United States Government and its agents or officers (collectively, the " US Government ") harmless from and against any and all claims, liability, losses, costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the US Government in connection with any use or alleged use of the service under your user name by any person, whether or not authorized by you. The AOC reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and in such case, you agree to cooperate with the AOC?s defense of such claim.

7. Termination of Service.

7.1 The AOC may change, suspend or discontinue all or any aspect of the ARS website at any time, including the availability of any feature, database, or Content without prior notice or liability.

7.2 The AOC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to restrict, suspend or terminate your access to all or any part of the ARS website at any time, for any reason, without prior notice or liability.

7.3 Failure to adhere to this Agreement may result in the restriction, suspension or termination of your access to all or any part of the ARS website without prior notice or liability.

8. Cancellation of Your Tour of the United States Capitol

The U.S. Capitol reserves the right to suspend scheduled tours at any time and for any reason.  To cancel your tour of the United States Capitol, please have your confirmation number available.  You may cancel your tour at visitthecapitol.gov or by calling 202-226-8000.

9. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

9.1 THE AOC MAKES NO WARRANTIES THAT THE ARS WEBSITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE; NOR DOES THE AOC MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE ARS WEBSITE, ITS SERVICES OR ITS CONTENT. THE ARS WEBSITE, THE SERVICE PROVIDED AND THE CONTENT WITHIN ARE DISTRIBUTED ON AN "AS IS, AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. THE AOC DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE ARS WEBSITE, ANY CONTENT OR ANY SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE ARS WEBSITE. THE AOC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT ANY FILES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING THROUGH THE ARS WEBSITE WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES OR SIMILAR CONTAMINATION OR DESTRUCTIVE FEATURES. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICE AND THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENT IS ASSUMED SOLELY BY YOU.

9.2 NEITHER THE AOC NOR ITS AGENTS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACT, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

9.3 THE AOC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE IN ANY WAY, AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION, AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH CHANGES. THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY EVEN IF THE AOC OR THE US GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUCH DAMAGE.

9.4 THE AOC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION, OR REVOKE YOUR STATUS AS A USER AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON. THE AOC WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH NOTIFICATION OF SUCH CANCELLATION OR REVOCATION.

9.5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATEMENT TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE AOC DOES NOT WAIVE ITS, OR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIABILITY, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES YOU MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE ARS WEBSITE. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND ASSUME ALL RISKS INHERENT IN THE USE OF THE ARS WEBSITE.

10. Miscellaneous.

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, and the parties irrevocably consent to bring any action to enforce this Agreement in the federal courts located in Washington, DC.. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous written or oral agreements between the parties with respect to such subject matter. All provisions hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement as well as any other revisions which by their terms or sense are intended to survive.

11. Severability and Integration.

Unless otherwise specified herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the AOC and governs your use of the ARS website. If any portion of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, that portion shall be construed in a manner consistent with applicable law to reflect, as nearly as possible, the original intention of the parties, and the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

This Agreement is accepted upon your use of the ARS Website or any of the ARS Services and is further affirmed by you becoming a registered group. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and AOC regarding the use of the ARS. The failure of AOC to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of such right or provision. The section titles in this Agreement are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect. This Agreement operates to the fullest extent permissible by law. If any provision of this Agreement is unlawful, void or unenforceable, that provision is deemed severable from this Agreement and does not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

Please contact us at: 202-226-8000 with any questions regarding this Agreement.

I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED ABOVE.

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Exhibition Hall: E Pluribus Unum

Current Exhibition

• Legislative Highlights
• Congress and the War of 1812
• Conflict and Compromise II
• Conflict and Compromise I
• Instruments of Change
• Congress and the Civil War II
• Congress and the Civil War I
• April 2010 - September 2011
• October 2009 - March 2010
• April 2009 - September 2009
• December 2008 - March 2009
• Views of Exhibition Hall
• Capitol Story
• Take an Interactive Tour
• Image Gallery
• Take the Capitol Challenge
• 1945-Present
• Building a More Perfect Union

Event Calendar

Wednesday, july 03, 2024.

Join one of our knowledgeable guides for a live, virtual tour of the Crypt, Rotunda, National Statuary Hall, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, and the Old Senate Chamber. Click on the registration links below or change the date in the calendar on this page to see available virtual tours to learn more about these historic spaces.

Registration for online tours closes at 4 p.m. the previous day.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

How Do I Tour the U.S. Capitol and See Congress in Session?

Learn all you need to know about visiting and touring america’s center of democracy..

UPDATE: The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All tours are free and are led by professional tour guides and do not include the Senate and House Galleries. The tour route is subject to change. Note that advance reservations are required for a tour. Visitors enter through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. Please leave time to go through security and review the U.S. Capitol’s prohibited items list before your visit.

The U.S. Capitol Building is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and the center of American democracy. The world-famous domed building is home to the United States House of Representatives and Senate; where America’s congressmen and congresswomen conduct business, debate laws and pass bills on behalf of the American people. The U.S. Capitol and U.S. Capitol Visitor Center  is also one of DC’s most popular monuments and museums and welcomes millions of visitors each year.

Tour groups in United States Capitol Building Rotunda - Attractions and landmarks in Washington, DC

How do I arrange a tour of the United States Capitol Building?

Plan your visit in advance! A public tour of the U.S. Capitol is free and open to anyone who makes an advanced reservation, although there are some same-day tickets available by standing in line at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center (note that lines will be long during spring and summer).  We recommend reserving a  reserving a tour date and time .

All tours begin and end at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Inauguration Day).  Tours typically take about 90 minutes and are  fully accessible for people with disabilities.

What will I see on a Capitol tour?

Guided tours begin with a 13-minute intro film, followed stops in the Capitol Rotunda, where guides point out the center point of the District of Columbia, as well as demonstrate the unique acoustical effect where a speaker several yards away can be heard more clearly than a speaker close to the listener. The Capitol Dome is encircled by murals, and the fresco on the eye of the ceiling is called The Apotheosis of Washington showing President Washington rising to the heavens in glory with Liberty and Victory/Fame beside him. Below, on the walls of the Rotunda, are large paintings depicting significant events in American history: The Signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Baptism of Pocohontas, The Embarkation of the Pilgrims, The Landing of Columbus and General George Washington Resigning His Commission. Other stops on the 45-minute walking tour include the Crypt, National Statuary Hall and connecting corridors of the U.S. Capitol, where you’ll see statues representing every state

Can I see Congress in session?

The guided tour doesn't include the Senate and House galleries. However, visitors can obtain free passes through their congressmen to view both chambers when Congress is in session. International visitors can ask about gallery passes at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level of the Capitol Visitor Center. When Congress is not in session, the galleries are open to the public Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. However, viewing hours are subject to change and are not always the same for the House and Senate galleries. You can check the schedules with your Congressional office when requesting gallery passes. Read more information about  watching Congress in session  and viewing the House and Senate galleries.

@paddyleahy

What’s in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center?

You’ll find a cafeteria and gift shop in the Capitol Visitor Center. The gift shop carries merchandise inspired by the art and architecture of the U.S. Capitol. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for continental breakfast and lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you haven’t printed your tour reservation, bring along the number you were assigned. There are free listening devices in multiple languages for international visitors.

How do I get to the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center?

Because there is very little parking, it is best to travel via the  Metro or the DC Circulator. There are three Metro stops within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol: Union Station (Red Line), Capitol South and Federal Center SW (Orange, Silver and Blue lines). The Capitol Visitor Center, which serves as the main public entrance, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First and East Capitol streets.

Looking for more in the neighborhood? Take advantage of  our guide to Capitol Hill .

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White House

White House public tour requests are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and must be submitted through a Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Consistent with prior practices, public White House tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the requested tour date(s). Reservations cannot be accepted for tour dates outside this 21 – 90-day window.

Public tours are typically available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. If your tour is confirmed, please note that you will be assigned a specific time. All White House tours are free of charge. The White House tour schedule is subject to change, with little notice, based on inclement weather or official use.

If you are a citizen of a foreign country, please contact your embassy in Washington, D.C. for assistance in submitting a tour request.

U.S. Capitol Tours and Information

U.S. Capitol Tours

The u.s. capitol is now open to public tours. you may visit this page to schedule your tour., reservations are required..

The House and Senate Galleries remain closed to the public.

The United States Capitol is a monument, a working office building, and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world.

Visitors are welcome to enter the building through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. You can begin your Capitol experience at the Visitor Center by visiting our temporary exhibits, perusing our Gift Shops or dining in our Restaurant. Please review the U.S. Capitol prohibited items list before your visit.

Guides using translation devices lead foreign language tours each day. Tours in Mandarin and Spanish are offered at 8:40 a.m. Each tour is walk-up only (no advance reservations are accepted). Tours are limited to 50 visitors.

The Capitol Visitor Center, the main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street.

All visitors view the historic areas of the Capitol on a guide-led tour. The tour includes visiting the Crypt , the Rotunda , and National Statuary Hall . The tour does not include visiting the Senate and House Galleries , which require separate passes.

The Capitol Visitor Center welcomes visitors from across the United States and around the world. Identification is not required to enter the Capitol or to enjoy a tour.

All tours, programs and activities are free of charge.

What do you need to know?

Prohibited Items

Capitol visitor policies are designed to keep visitors and staff safe and secure and to preserve the collections, facilities, and historic building and grounds for generations to come.

Before entering the Capitol Visitor Center, all visitors are screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building are screened by an x-ray device. The following items are strictly prohibited in the Capitol, including the Capitol Visitor Center:

• Liquid, including water
• Food or beverages of any kind, including fruit and unopened packaged food
• Aerosol containers
• Non-aerosol spray (Prescriptions for medical needs are permitted.)
• Any pointed object, e.g. knitting needles and letter openers (Pens and pencils are permitted.)
• Any bag larger than 18" wide x 14" high x 8.5" deep
• Electric stun guns, martial arts weapons or devices
• Guns, replica guns, ammunition, and fireworks
• Knives of any size
• Mace and pepper spray
• Razors and box cutters

Please note that the U.S. Capitol Police are authorized to make exceptions if a prohibited item is determined to be necessary and required to serve childcare, medical or other special needs. If you have questions, please call the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services at 202.224.4048.

The following restrictions apply only when visiting the House and Senate Galleries.

• Battery-operated electronic devices (medical devices are permitted)
• Cans and bottles
• Creams, lotions or perfume
• Packages, briefcases, backpacks or suitcases
• Video recorders or any type of recording device

***Each Gallery operates a checkstand where visitors may store these items securely while they are visiting that Gallery.

***Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Capitol, and food and drink are only allowed in the Capitol Cafe.

Visitors with Disabilities

• All public tours of the Capitol are accessible. The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services (OCAS) can provide tours specifically designed for visitors with disabilities. For information about these tours or any accessibility questions, please call OCAS at 202-224-4048.
• Listening devices with audio description of the orientation film are available at the Information Desks in Emancipation Hall.
• T-coil receivers for use on the tour are available after the conclusion of the orientation film. Request them from Capitol Visitor Center staff once you exit the theater. Standard assisted listening devices are also available. Visitors should check manufacturer product information if they are uncertain if their individual hearing aid is compatible with MyLink t-coil receivers.
• An ASL tour of the Capitol is available here .
• Sign language interpretation for tours is available when booked in advance. Email [email protected] . All films have open captioning.
• Family Restrooms are available throughout the Capitol Visitor Center.
• Service animals are allowed in the Visitor Center and the Capitol.
• A public TTY is located near one of the gift shops on the Upper Level.
• Copies of all Capitol Visitor Center brochures in alternative formats (large print, braille, HTML) are available at the Information Desks.
• Emergency evacuation information for visitors with disabilities is available here .
• Additional information on accessibility in the Capitol and the House and Senate Office Buildings is available at the Architect of the Capitol's Web site here .
• Both the Senate and House have accessible Galleries which include televisions with closed-captioning, as well as assistive listening devices (ALDs). In addition, the Senate has informational materials available in alternative formats.

Visitors Requiring Shuttle Service to the Capitol Visitor Center Entrance

For your convenience, the Capitol Visitor Center provides an on-demand shuttle service for individuals who use manual wheelchairs or who need mobility assistance. The shuttles run from the bus drop-off and pick-up areas on the West side of the Capitol to the Capitol Visitor Center entrance at the center of the Capitol's East Plaza. They operate continuously, as needed, from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday – Saturday.

Advance reservations are not required for individuals or small groups. However, if you are traveling with a large group requesting mobility assistance, we strongly recommend that you contact the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services at 202.224.4048 prior to your visit. Please provide as much advance notice as possible to help facilitate your request.

Personnel in the kiosks can provide additional information about the service and call a shuttle for you if one isn't already there. The west side kiosk is located near Independence Avenue and First Street SW, across from the U.S. Botanic Garden. The east side kiosk is located near East Capitol Street NE/SE and First Street NE/SE, across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Library of Congress Jefferson Building.

Any CVC staff member in a red shirt, vest or jacket can also answer your questions about the shuttle service, as can staff in the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, 202.224.4048.

Watching Congress in Session

The Senate and House Galleries are open to visitors whenever either legislative body is in session; however the Galleries are not included as part of the U.S. Capitol tour. Passes are required to enter the Galleries. Visitors may obtain Gallery passes from the offices of their senators or representative. International visitors may inquire about Gallery passes at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level of the Capitol Visitor Center.

When the House of Representatives is not in session, visitors with passes are admitted to the Gallery from 9 a.m. to no later than 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The last entry into the Gallery may be earlier than 4 p.m. based on demand. Visitors are advised to arrive prior to 4 p.m. for the best opportunity to view the Gallery. The House Gallery is closed on holidays and is subject to unplanned, temporary closures when the House is out of session.

The Senate Gallery is open during scheduled recesses of one week or more, and visitors are admitted to the gallery from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. On recess days, the Gallery closes at 4:30 p.m. The Senate Gallery is closed on weekends and holidays (unless the Senate is in session) and during any recess or adjournment of less than one week. For information on whether the Senate Gallery is open, please call 202.224.0057.

Entry to the House and Senate Galleries is through the upper level of the Capitol Visitor Center.

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Guest Essay

We Are Israelis Calling on Congress to Disinvite Netanyahu

By David Harel ,  Tamir Pardo ,  Talia Sasson ,  Ehud Barak ,  Aaron Ciechanover and David Grossman

Mr. Harel is the president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Mr. Pardo is a former director of Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service. Ms. Sasson is a former director of the special tasks department in Israel’s State Attorney’s Office. Mr. Barak is a former prime minister of Israel. Mr. Ciechanover received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004. Mr. Grossman is a novelist and essayist.

The leaders of the U.S. Congress have invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to address a joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives on July 24. Normally, we Israelis would consider the invitation recognition of our two nations’ shared values and a welcome gesture from our closest friend and ally, to whom we are deeply and morally indebted.

But Congress has made a terrible mistake. Mr. Netanyahu’s appearance in Washington will not represent the State of Israel and its citizens, and it will reward his scandalous and destructive conduct toward our country.

We come from a variety of areas of Israeli society: science, technology, politics, defense, law and culture. We are thus in a good position to assess the overall effect of Mr. Netanyahu’s government, and like many, we believe that he is driving Israel downhill at an alarming speed, to the extent that we may eventually lose the country we love.

To date, Mr. Netanyahu has failed to come up with a plan to end the war in Gaza and has been unable to gain the freedom of scores of hostages. At the very least, an invitation to address Congress should have been contingent upon resolving these two issues and, in addition, calling for new elections in Israel.

Inviting Mr. Netanyahu will reward his contempt for U.S. efforts to establish a peace plan, allow more aid to the beleaguered people of Gaza and do a better job of sparing civilians. Time and again, he has rejected President Biden’s plan to remove Hamas from power in Gaza through the establishment of a peacekeeping force. Such a move would very likely bring in its wake a far broader regional alliance, including a vision to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is not only in Israel’s interest but also in the interest of both political parties in the United States. Mr. Netanyahu constitutes the main obstacle to these outcomes.

The man who will address Congress next month has failed to assume responsibility for the blunders that allowed the Hamas assault, initially blaming security chiefs (then quickly backtracking ), and has yet to announce the establishment of a direly needed state commission of inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge to look into the fiasco.

Despite the fierce fighting in Gaza and daily casualties on both sides, following Hamas’s terrible attacks on Oct. 7, Mr. Netanyahu continues to push forward with the authoritarian remaking of Israel as if nothing has changed. The Israeli police force, under the command of the far-right-wing security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has cracked down violently on demonstrators. The appointments of court judges and a Supreme Court president remain on hold . Central scientific and cultural institutions continue to endure governmental attempts at political control. Large sums of money have been channeled recklessly to the ultra-Orthodox, who by and large do not share the economic and security burden of Israel’s citizens, especially by remaining exempt from serving in the military. Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling overturning the exemption is a step forward, although the practical impact is unclear, given that Mr. Netanyahu has proposed enshrining the exemption in a law.

Above all, many Israelis are convinced that Mr. Netanyahu has obstructed proposed deals with Hamas that would have led to the release of the hostages in order to keep the war going and thus avoid the inevitable political reckoning he will face when it ends.

Mr. Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, whose support Mr. Netanyahu needs to maintain his government, are strongly opposed to stopping the war in Gaza, even for a temporary truce. They demand that the Gaza Strip be conquered and filled with new settlements.

For months now, many of us have participated in nationwide demonstrations demanding an immediate release of the hostages, an end to the war and immediate elections. Polls of Israelis show that a majority want immediate elections, or elections right at the end of the war.

A large portion of Israelis have lost faith in Mr. Netanyahu’s government . He is clinging to power thanks to a tenuous parliamentary majority. That majority ignores the plight of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced in the south after the Hamas attack and in the north because of attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the families of the hostages, a powerful force now in Israel.

That’s where Mr. Netanyahu’s speech to Congress fits in with his political needs. No doubt it will be carefully stage-managed to prop up his shaky hold on power and allow him to boast to his constituents about America’s so-called support for his failed policies.

His supporters in Israel will be emboldened by his appearance in Congress to insist that the war continue, which will further distance any deal to secure the release of the hostages, including several U.S. citizens.

Giving Mr. Netanyahu the stage in Washington will all but dismiss the rage and pain of his people, as expressed in the demonstrations throughout the country. American lawmakers should not let that happen. They should ask Mr. Netanyahu to stay home.

David Harel is the president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Tamir Pardo is a former director of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service. Talia Sasson is a former director of the special tasks department of Israel’s State Attorney’s Office. Ehud Barak is a former Israeli prime minister. Aaron Ciechanover won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004. David Grossman is an author of fiction, nonfiction and children’s literature.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Biden, Netanyahu expected to meet in Washington during Israeli PM's July visit

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Reporting by Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Michael Perry

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Kanishka Singh is a breaking news reporter for Reuters in Washington DC, who primarily covers US politics and national affairs in his current role. His past breaking news coverage has spanned across a range of topics like the Black Lives Matter movement; the US elections; the 2021 Capitol riots and their follow up probes; the Brexit deal; US-China trade tensions; the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on a religious dispute site in his native India.

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Hurricane Beryl strikes Jamaica as death toll creeps up, destruction widespread

Hurricane Beryl churned menacingly over Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon, after uprooting trees, ripping off roofs and destroying farms as it forged a destructive, water-soaked path across smaller Caribbean islands over the past couple days.

PM Modi says violence declining in Manipur, Congress takes 'no visit' jab

F acing heat from the opposition over the Centre's handling of the ethnic strife in Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on the issue on Wednesday, saying violence in the state was continuously declining.

Stressing that the government was leaving no stone unturned to restore peace in the northeastern state, PM Modi asked the opposition to rise above politics on the issue.

"Some elements are adding fuel to the fire and such elements will be rejected by the people of Manipur," PM Modi said while replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha.

Dishing out data to buttress his claim that peace was returning to Manipur, the Prime Minister said 11,000 FIRs were registered, and 500 people have been arrested so far.

He also said that schools and offices had reopened in most parts of the state.

"Today, in most parts of Manipur, schools, colleges, offices are running. In Manipur too, exams were held there like in other parts," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi's remarks came as opposition Rajya Sabha MPs staged a walkout after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to intervene and put out his views.

The Congress said PM Modi's claim that the situation in Manipur was normal was "astounding" and pointed out that he still hasn't visited the state since violence erupted between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities in May 2023.

"In actuality, the situation is still tense as the MP from Inner Manipur pointed out in the Lok Sabha on July 1," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

"And the non-biological Pradhan Mantri has still not visited Manipur since it erupted on the night of May 3, 2023 - nor has he met with the political leaders of the state. The President's Address too was silent on the issue," he said.

On Monday, the Congress MP from Inner Manipur, A Bimol Akoijam, hit out at the government for being a "mute spectator" to the tragedy for one year.

"Our prime minister remains silent, not even uttering a word, and the President's address failed to mention this. This silence is not normal," Akoijam, who spoke in the Lok Sabha close to midnight, said.

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House Republicans sue Attorney General Garland over access to Biden special counsel interview audio

Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, Thursday, June 27, 2024. House Republicans have filed a lawsuit against Garland for the audio recording of President Joe Biden’s interview with a special counsel. The legal action Monday, July 1, asks the courts to enforce their subpoena and reject the White House’s effort to withhold the materials from Congress. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Monday filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Merrick Garland for the audio recording of President Joe Biden’s interview with a special counsel in his classified documents case , asking the courts to enforce their subpoena and reject the White House’s effort to withhold the materials from Congress.

The lawsuit filed by the House Judiciary Committee marks Republicans’ latest broadside against the Justice Department as partisan conflict over the rule of law animates the 2024 presidential campaign . The legal action comes weeks after the White House blocked Garland from releasing the audio recording to Congress by asserting executive privilege.

Republicans in the House responded by voting to make Garland the third attorney general in U.S. history to be held in contempt of Congress . But the Justice Department refused to take up the contempt referral, citing the agency’s “longstanding position and uniform practice” to not prosecute officials who don’t comply with subpoenas because of a president’s claim of executive privilege.

The lawsuit states that Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., made a “last-ditch effort” last week to Garland to resolve the issue without taking legal action but the attorney general referred the Republicans to the White House, which rebuffed the “effort to find a solution to this impasse.”

Garland has defended the Justice Department, saying officials have gone to extraordinary lengths to provide information to the committees about special counsel Robert Hur’s classified documents investigation, including a transcript of Biden’s interview with him.

The congressional inquiry began with the release of Hur’s report in February, which found evidence that Biden, a Democrat, willfully retained and shared highly classified information when he was a private citizen. Yet the special counsel concluded that criminal charges were not warranted.

Republicans, incensed by Hur’s decision, issued a subpoena for audio of his interviews with Biden during the spring. But the Justice Department turned over only some of the records, leaving out audio of the interview with the president.

“The audio recordings, not the cold transcripts, are the best available evidence of how President Biden presented himself during the interview,” the lawsuit reads. “The Committee thus needs those recordings to assess the Special Counsel’s characterization of the President, which he and White House lawyers have forcefully disputed, and ultimate recommendation that President Biden should not be prosecuted.”

On the last day to comply with the Republicans’ subpoena for the audio, the White House blocked the release by invoking executive privilege. It said that Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings “to chop them up” and use them for political purposes.

But Republicans maintain that access to both the audio recordings and the transcripts are warranted to determine if legislative reforms need to be put in place for the storage, handling and disclosure of sensitive documents by members of the executive branch. Prolonging the investigation also keeps attention on parts of Hur’s report that were politically damaging to Biden as he seeks reelection against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, in November.

Beyond the bitingly critical assessment of Biden’s handling of sensitive government records, Hur offered unflattering characterizations of the Democratic president’s memory in his report, sparking fresh questions about his competency and age that cut at voters’ most deep-seated concerns about the 81-year-old seeking a second term.

“We need the audio recordings and the transcripts,” Rep. Jim Jordan, the GOP chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said during a hearing Thursday. “Put simply, they are the best evidence of the president’s mental state.”

Executive privilege gives presidents the right to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of decision-making, though it can be challenged in court. Administrations of both major political parties have long held the position that officials who assert a president’s claim of executive privilege can’t be prosecuted for contempt of Congress, a Justice Department official told Republicans last month.

Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte cited a committee’s decision in 2008 to back down from a contempt effort after President George W. Bush asserted executive privilege to keep Congress from getting records involving Vice President Dick Cheney.

The White House and congressional Democrats have slammed Republicans’ motives for pursuing contempt and dismissed their efforts to obtain the audio as purely political. They also pointed out that Jordan defied his own congressional subpoena in the last session.

It’s unclear how the lawsuit against Garland will play out. Courts have not had much to say about executive privilege. But in the 1974 case over President Richard Nixon’s refusal to release Oval Office recordings as part of t he Watergate investigation , the Supreme Court held that the privilege is not absolute. In other words, the case for turning over documents or allowing testimony may be more compelling than arguments for withholding them. In that context, the court ruled 8-0 that Nixon had to turn over the tapes.

When it came to the Watergate tapes, the Supreme Court said it had the final word, and lower courts have occasionally weighed in to resolve other disputes. But courts also have made clear they prefer that the White House and Congress resolve their disagreements without judicial intervention, when possible.

First Democrat in Congress calls on Biden to withdraw from 2024 election after debate

WASHINGTON — Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the first sitting Democrat in Congress to call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, citing his poor debate performance and the fact that he “has trailed Donald Trump” all year in surveys.

“Our overriding consideration must be who has the best hope of saving our democracy from an authoritarian takeover by a criminal and his gang. Too much is at stake to risk a Trump victory—too great a risk to assume that what could not be turned around in a year, what was not turned around in the debate, can be turned around now," Doggett said in a statement Tuesday. "President Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024."

While numerous Democrats have privately expressed concerns or suggested anonymously that Biden leave the race , Doggett, who is 77, is the first lawmaker to say it openly. He represents a blue district based in Austin and has served in Congress since 1995.

“I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson," he continued. "Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same.”

“I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so,” he said.

It is unclear whether — or how many — Democratic lawmakers will follow suit as Biden and his team insist he will stay in the race and be the party’s nominee. A Biden campaign official said he is “staying in” and noted that other Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have provided supportive statements standing behind Biden.

Doggett emphasized that he believes Biden has “achieved much for our country at home and abroad” as president, but he added: “While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional. He has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process.”

“President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies,” Doggett said.

He argued that the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling adds fresh urgency to the task of defeating Trump. “This week, with the Supreme Court creating 'a law-free zone around the President,' Trump, newly-empowered with immunity, could usher America into a long, dark, authoritarian era unchecked by either the courts or a submissive Republican Congress,” Doggett said.

After Doggett’s call, Democratic candidate Adam Frisch, who is running in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, also called on Biden to exit, saying neither he nor Trump should be running for president.

“We deserve better. President Biden should do what’s best for the country and withdraw from the race,” said Frisch, who lost by a razor-thin margin to Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert in 2022.

Julián Castro — a Housing and Urban Development secretary in the Obama-Biden administration who clashed with Biden as a 2020 candidate — joined the calls on MSNBC, saying there is “a stable of Democrats” who would be more effective against Trump, including Vice President Kamala Harris.

“He is not the campaigner he was in 2020,” Castro said. “I believe there are stronger options out there for Democrats.”

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, one of five House Democrats who represent Trump districts, published an opinion piece in the Bangor Daily News saying: “While I don’t plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I’m OK with that.”

He said democracy “will be just fine” under Trump.

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.