Coase-Sandor Working Paper Series in Law and Economics
Publication Date
2018
Publication Title
Coase-Sandor Working Paper Series in Law and Economics
Abstract
The landmark Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 charges Congress, through its standing committees, to “exercise continuous watchfulness” over the executive branch. Yet, committees differ markedly in their performance of this responsibility; the modal House committee does not convene oversight hearings in the typical year, while other committees holds dozens of hearings. This Article compares the characteristics of committee chairs that pursue oversight vigorously with those that do not. Surprisingly, I find that chairs’ previous prosecutorial or other legal experience has no discernable connection with oversight activity. Instead, committees that engage in frequent oversight tend to be chaired by productive lawmakers (“bill-writers”), members with long tenures in office (“lifers”), and members facing competitive elections (“nailbiters”). Should congressional leaders desire to increase their branch’s role in governance after the passage of laws, they ought to encourage members with these characteristics to chair committees.
Number
845
Recommended Citation
Brian Feinstein, "Who Conducts Oversight? Bill-Writers, Lifers, and Nail-Biters," Coase-Sandor Working Paper Series in Law and Economics, No. 845 (2018).
