Handout C: House Un-American Activities Committee Mission Statement, 1948
Handout C: House Un-American Activities Committee Mission Statement, 1948
Directions: Read the statement and answer the questions below.
“The House Committee on Un-American Activities has…a very special responsibility. It functions to permit the greatest court in the world—the court of American public opinion—to have an undirected, uncensored, and unprejudiced opportunity to render a continuing verdict on all of its public officials and to evaluate the merit of many in private life who either openly associate and assist disloyal groups or covertly operate as members or fellow travelers of such organizations.”
Critical Thinking Questions
- To what extent do you think that HUAC carried out its work in and “undirected, uncensored, and unprejudiced” way?
- Did HUAC violate its own mission statement? Why or why not?