House Un-American Activities Committee

A United States House committee that investigated alleged subversion, including communist influence in Hollywood. Its hearings became a prominent instrument of anti-communist investigations and public accusation.

Congressional subpoena: A formal order issued by a congressional committee requiring testimony or the production of documents. The committee used subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify and provide records.
Special Committee on Un-American Activities: A temporary House committee established in 1938 to investigate alleged un-American activities. This 1938 committee was HUAC's immediate predecessor.
Hollywood Ten: Ten screenwriters and directors who refused to answer HUAC questions about alleged communist affiliations in 1947. Their refusal to answer led to contempt convictions and helped trigger Hollywood's blacklist.
First Amendment to the United States Constitution: A constitutional amendment protecting freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Challenges to HUAC raised questions about political speech and association.
Senate Internal Security Subcommittee: A Senate subcommittee that investigated alleged communist influence and domestic subversion from 1950 to 1977. It conducted related investigations in the Senate rather than the House.
Contempt of Congress: An act of obstructing or refusing to comply with a lawful demand from Congress or one of its committees. Refusal to answer committee questions could lead to contempt proceedings.
Martin Dies: A Democratic representative from Texas who chaired the House Special Committee on Un-American Activities from 1938 to 1944. Dies gave the early investigations their direction and made the committee nationally prominent.
Alger Hiss: A former State Department official convicted of perjury after Whittaker Chambers accused him of espionage-related activity. HUAC hearings made Chambers's accusations against Hiss a national political controversy.
Dennis v. United States: A 1951 Supreme Court decision upholding convictions of Communist Party leaders under the Smith Act. The ruling shows the wider legal climate surrounding congressional anti-communist investigations.
Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations: A Senate subcommittee established in 1948 to investigate government operations and alleged misconduct. Its investigations, including some led by Joseph McCarthy, are often confused with HUAC's.

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