The mission of the Governance Studies is to examine civic and political institutions—the means or instruments by which Americans and citizens in other democracies govern themselves. This focus differs from that of the other scholarly programs at Brookings. Whereas their principal function is to evaluate government policies and prescribe improvements, the purpose of GS is to explain how and why the institutional mechanisms for policymaking perform as they do, and often to suggest changes that could improve performance.

Governance Studies research projects over the years have assessed national electoral systems, problems of representation and civic engagement, legislative behavior, executive organization, budgetary procedures, management of public bureaucracies, judicial and legal practices, local administration of educational institutions, the role of non-profit organizations, the news media, religious institutions, and the rationale for federalism, among other subjects. 

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Policy Center:

• Brown Center on Education Policy

Research Projects and Areas:

• See Full List