Publications

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Issues in Governance Studies: Issues in Governance Studies is a series of papers released by Governance Studies at Brookings. Papers are concise and explanatory, provide research analysis, and are typically released in connection with a congressional debate, executive branch initiative, or current event. Read More

Policy Briefs: The Brookings Policy Briefs are short and informative analyses on current issues that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists, and the general public.  A selection of Governance Studies experts' views and recommendations on current policy issues include:

• How to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Now
• No Child Left Behind: How to give It a Passing Grade
• Why Federalism Matters
• Can the U.S. Government Live Within Its Means? Lessons from Abroad
• Social Security Smorgasbord? Lessons from Sweden's Individual Pension Accounts
• An Agenda for Election Reform
• The Political Economy of Nuclear Energy in the United States
• Thinking About Political Polarization

Mending the Broken Branch: The Mending the Broken Branch Project examines policy-making and oversight activity in the 110th Congress as well as action on key issues to provide a complete picture of the legislative branch's efforts to mend itself. The project will issue regular reports as it monitors Congress's performance under its new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

• Is the Broken Branch on the Mend?
• One Year Later: Is Congress Still the Broken Branch?

Legal Architecture for the War on Terror: The Legal Architecture for the War on Terror Project will prepare a series of papers intended to suggest changes to areas of American statutory law pertinent to the War on Terrorism. The papers will be published jointly by the Brookings Institution, the Georgetown University Law Center, and the Hoover Institution.

• Modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

The Legislating for the Future Project: The Legislating for the Future Project is an initiative of New York University’s John Brademas Center for the Study of Congress and is co-sponsored by Brookings and the RAND Corporation. The project's papers examine the capacity of Congress to address long-term problems facing the nation, probe the public’s attitudes towards Congress’ ability to make long-term decisions for the 21st Century, and analyze specific long-term policy issues.

• Why the 2005 Social Security Initiative Failed, and What it Means for the Future
• Can Congress Govern the Climate?
• Can Congress Legislate for the Future?