Government by Investigation: Congress, Presidents, and the Search for Answers, 1945–2012

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Government by Investigation Congress, Presidents, and the Search for Answers 1945–2013 Paul C. Light examines and evaluates the 100 most significant investigations of policy failures, bureaucratic mistakes, and personal misconduct undertaken by the U.S. federal government between 1945 and 2012. Launched by Congress or the president, sometimes by both at the same time, the investigations at the core of this book were driven by the search for answers about significant breakdowns in government performance. Light reveals which investigations were most effective, and why. Praise for Government by Investigation “ Written by one of this country’s preeminent experts on the federal government, Paul Light’s Government by Investigation is essential reading for investigators who seek better government.” — LEE H. HAMILTON, former U.S. representative; director,The Center on Congress at Indiana University “ Paul Light has done the nearly impossible, but the extraordinarily valuable. Government by Investigation is a must-read for anyone who works in the Congress, or cares about whether the Congress is performing its oversight duties well.” —DANIELLE BRIAN, executive director, Project on Government Oversight “ An impressive, prodigious achievement.” — DAVID R. MAYHEW, Sterling Professor,Yale University “ Paul Light’s book will serve as the new bible for congressional investigations. He cogently separates partisan witch hunts from groundbreaking investigatory hearings that mattered. This is a must-read for political junkies and serious policy wonks alike.” —TOM DAVIS, former U.S. representative PAUL C. LIGHT is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service at NewYork University’s Robert F.Wagner School of Public Service. His many books include Driving Social Change: How to Solve the World’s Toughest Problems and A Government Ill Executed: The Decline of the Federal Service and How to Reverse It. He is also a coauthor of Government by the People, now in its 24th edition. BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS Washington, D.C. www.brookings.edu/press THE GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE Washington, D.C. Cover by Sese-Paul Design Photographs ©Veer and PhotoDisc Light Government by Investigation ...