Campaign 2012: Political and Institutional Reform

Amid hyper-partisan political debate on Capitol Hill and heated arguments over the right size and role of government agencies, policy-making for the federal government has slowed to a crawl. Government officials are hamstrung in their ability to deal with complex policy issues like job growth, immigration and health care in a climate of increasing polarization and a lack of accountability. What kinds of solutions in Congress, the executive branch and the conduct of political campaigns might effectively cut through the gridlock and reform our political structures?

On July 24, the Campaign 2012 project at Brookings held a discussion on political and institutional reform, the eighth in a series of forums that identify and address the 12 most critical issues facing the next president. Congressional editor Martin Kady of POLITICO moderated a panel discussion with Brookings experts William Galston, Russ Whitehurst and Sarah Binder, who presented recommendations to the next president.

After the program, panelists took questions from the audience.

You can follow the conversation on this event on Twitter using the hashtag #BIPoliticalReform or on our @BICampaign2012 Twitter feed.

Download papers from the event:

• Reforming Institutions: The Next President Should Not Miss This Moment to Make Government Work, by William A Galston 
• Political Realities of Bold Reforms of the U.S. Government, by Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst 
• The Depressing Logic of Reform’s Bad Prospects, by Sarah A. Binder 

Campaign 2012: Twelve Independent Ideas for Improving American Public Policy is an indispensable guide to the key questions facing White House hopefuls in 2012.