Brookings: Topics - Congressional Oversight

Governance Studies

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:43 GMT

Governance Studies brings together people interested in improving the performance of our national government and bettering the economic security, social welfare, and opportunity available to all Americans.

Strengthening and Streamlining the Federal Supervision of Financial Institutions

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Martin Baily testified before the Senate Banking Committee on the creation of a single micro prudential regulator, combining the regulatory and supervisory functions now carried out by the Fed, the OCC, the OTS, the SEC and the FDIC. He calls attention to the Australia model as a good positive example where a single prudential regulator has worked well.

The Deficit Threat and the Recovery

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The federal deficit represents a serious long-term problem. According to Gary Burtless, it is not, however, a threat to our economic recovery, nor will it be a threat anytime soon. Our near-term problem is weakness in private demand rather than excess government borrowing.

Restoring Obama's Promise

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many argue that President Obama is biting off way more than he can chew, "overloading" the system and dealing with all sorts of "side issues," when he should be focusing solely on the broken economy. E.J. Dionne writes that Obama's biggest task will be restoring faith that what he had in mind is still possible.

Earmark Reform

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Barack Obama promised to change how Washington works but the omnibus spending bill he just signed contained more than eight thousand earmarks. Thomas Mann joined Norman Ornstein and Melanie Sloan on the Diane Rehm Show to look at how members of congress set aside money for projects in their districts and how the new administration hopes to reform the process.

Put Earmarks in Perspective

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The $410 billion omnibus spending bill has about 9,000 earmarks, constituting less than one percent of the federal budget. Thomas Mann argues that abolishing earmarks would have a trivial effect on the level of spending and budget deficits. Instead, he says attention needs to be placed on the critical decisions that we face in the months and years ahead, including making sure new funds are expended in the most responsible way possible.

Did the 110th Congress Mend the Broken Branch? What to Expect in the 111th Congress

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 08, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

When the 111th Congress convenes it will turn first to internal issues—including a disputed Illinois Senate seat and proposed rule changes in the House of Representatives. On January 8, Sarah Binder and Thomas Mann, with AEI’s Norman Ornstein, offered recommendations on how the new Congress may strengthen what they have called "the broken branch." They also critiqued whether the Democratic-majority 110th Congress achieved their objectives in mending the institution.

Assessing the 110th Congress, Anticipating the 111th

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Binder, Thomas Mann, Norman Ornstein and Molly Reynolds look ahead to the 111th Congress and what it will take to overcome the shortcomings of the 110th. Although the previous Congress was able to achieve some policy successes, increase oversight of the executive and strengthen ethics standards and procedures, it was limited in its ability to overcome fully the realities of divided government, the ideological polarization of the parties and the institutional dynamics that have shaped Congress in recent years.

Presidential Accountability for Wars of Choice

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this Issues in Governance Studies, Bruce Buchanan examines how Congress and the American people evaluate presidential wars of choice. When it comes to whether or not to use American military power, presidential discretion is virtually unchecked. Using the Korean War, Vietnam War and the current Iraqi operation as case models, Buchanan explores the presidential accountability for wars of choice and recommends the use of policy trials.

Repairing a Frayed TARP

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Binder and Mark Spindel suggest that Congress should amend the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program in several ways, including a rewrite of the conditions put on institutions that take TARP dollars. It is not too late to fix the mistakes made in the rush to enactment, they write.

The 4 Percent Defense Spending Chimera

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As U.S. armed forces continue their heroic operations around the globe, worries have intensified about sustaining adequate defense funding in the future. Michael O'Hanlon agues that a 4 percent gross domestic product floor for defense spending is unnecessary, because needs will fluctuate and there should not be a law preventing lower spending in the future if the geopolitical environment allows.

Financial Disaster: What Role for Congress?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Given the slew of questions that have been raised about the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street firms, Congress is right to reject open-ended grants of power at untold cost, writes Sarah Binder. But, if Congress fails to grant new powers to the Treasury, it risks deepening—and being blamed for—the greatest financial crisis since the Depression. Binder offers basic ground rules on how Congress should proceed.

Administrative Detention: The Integration of Strategy and Legal Process

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew Waxman examines the questions underlying the discussion of administrative detention, the possible need for new laws in combating terrorism, and how to make and review detention decisions for whom to detain.

American Interrogation Policy in the War Against Terrorism

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The interrogation programs of both the military and the intelligence community have been criticized at great length for being inconsistent with American values. In testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Benjamin Wittes examined America's interrogation policy in the war against terrorism and offered steps towards a healthier statutory environment.

Congressional Corruption: Reforming the Broken Branch

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Thomas Mann and Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School appeared on Bloggingheads.tv to discuss ways to restore public trust in Congress, and its failure to engage in responsible and deliberative lawmaking, to police the ethical behavior of its members, and to check and balance the executive.

One Year Later: Is Congress Still the Broken Branch?

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Thomas Mann and Sarah Binder conclude that in the 110th Congress, members are working harder, ethics regulations are tougher and a modest legislative harvest is being reaped. But, they warn, the venomous partisan atmosphere remains.

Could Congress Be Waking Up?

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Amid the clamor of the presidential campaign, it’s easy to forget that all 435 House seats and 35 of the Senate’s seats are up for election this year, too. So how should Congress under its new Democratic leadership be judged? In this New York Times opinion, Brookings Thomas Mann states that 110th Congress deserve some praise.

Gridlock on Capitol Hill

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

According to recent public opinion polls, approval rating for Congress remains particularly low. With ideologically divided parties sharing power and eyeing the upcoming presidential election, writes Sarah Binder, we should not be surprised to see stalemate on Capitol Hill.

Is the Broken Branch on the Mend?

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 04, 2007, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

Brookings and other experts graded congressional accomplishments in 2007 on the war in Iraq and a range of domestic issues—including health care, immigration, energy and education reform—and examined legislators' progress in reforming the way they do business.

Is the Broken Branch on the Mend? An Early Report on the 110th Congress

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The failure of Congress to fulfill its responsibilities as the first branch of government—to engage in responsible and deliberative lawmaking, to police the ethical behavior of its members, and to check and balance the executive—contributed to the demise of the Republican majority in last November's midterm election.

A New, Improved Congress?

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Molly Reynolds; The New York Times (8/26/07)

Is Congress on the Mend?

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Molly Reynolds, The New York Times (4/28/07)

An Independent Entity for the House Ethics Process?

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, House Task Force on Ethics Enforcement (4/19/07)

The Hill is Alive With the Sound of Hearings

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Foreign Affairs (3/21/07)

When Congress Checks Out

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein; Foreign Affairs (November/December 2006)

The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein; Roll Call (6/27/06)

Presidential War Powers: Has the Government Gone Too Far?

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 17, 2006, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

President Bush's authorization of National Security Agency eavesdropping on communications between the United States and other countries that are said to involve Al Qaeda is helping bring to a boil the long-simmering debate over the president's expansive assertions of presidential war powers. Brookings continued its Judicial Issues Forum series with a look at the both current and historical debates—going back to the colonial era and the framing of the Constitution—about the extent of the president's war powers.

Stalemate : Causes and Consequences of Legislative Gridlock

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Stalemate examines the causes and consequences of gridlock, exploring the ways in which elections and institutions together limit the capacity of Congress and the president to make public law.