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Sunday November 23, 2008

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Legal Architecture for the War on Terror


Reuters/Brennan Linsley/Pool - A detainee holds onto a fence as a U.S. military guard walks past the grounds of the maximum security prison at Camp 5 in the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base.

Save to My Portfolio Wrenching Choices on Guantanamo

Benjamin Wittes, November 21, 2008

President-elect Obama has reiterated his campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay. As Benjamin Wittes writes, the incoming administration must create a systematic and rigorous review of the detainee population, whose handling will require wrenching choices with no easy answers. Read More

Legal Architecture for the War on Terror, Justice and Law, Terrorism, Executive Branch, Human Rights

Transition 2008


Reuters/Kevin Lamarque - The Presidential Seal in the White House in Washington.

Save to My Portfolio Memo to the President: Lead With Confidence

Darrell M. West, November 07, 2008

The president-elect faces enormous challenges, but comes into office buoyed by an electorate hungry for change. Effective leadership, both at home and abroad, will require mobilizing grass-roots support and repositioning government as a solution rather than as a problem. Read More

The Presidency, The Presidential Transition, Governance, U.S. Politics, Elections

Transition 2008


Reuters/John Gress - President-elect Barack Obama with Rep. Rahm Emanuel in Chicago.

Save to My Portfolio Where Obama Should Find Cabinet Members

Stephen Hess, November 06, 2008

Stephen Hess offers suggestions to the new president-elect on how to best fill his cabinet. Hess cautions Obama, who will need to fill twice as many jobs than John F. Kennedy did, to factor in diversity as well as political and managerial talent. Read More

The Presidential Transition, Presidential Appointments, The Presidency, The White House, Executive Branch

Video

Save to My Portfolio Transition Tracker: Guantanamo Bay and Detainees

Stephen Hess, Benjamin Wittes, November 20, 2008

On the Transition Tracker, Brookings expert Benjamin Wittes answers questions about how President-elect Obama can put a legal framework in place to end the clash over detainee rights, while Senior Fellow Stephen Hess discusses the process of selecting the cabinet. Watch

Research and Commentary

Save to My Portfolio “Change” or Plus Ça Change…? Pondering Presidential Politics and Policy after Bush

Pietro S. Nivola, Charles O. Jones, September 2008

President-elect Obama faces daunting challenges when he assumes office in January. Pietro Nivola and Charles O. Jones examine these and the probable policy outcomes, at home and abroad, of an Obama presidency. Read More

Past Event

Save to My Portfolio The Politics of Presidential Appointments

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC

President-elect Barack Obama now faces the daunting challenge of shaping a new administration. On November 12, William Galston will moderate a discussion with David Lewis and Kathryn Dunn Tenpas to examine the basis on which presidents pick their political appointees and the impact of their choices on government performance. Read More

Past Event

Save to My Portfolio Legal Policy in the Obama Administration

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC

Key legal and constitutional policy issues from the Bush administration will no doubt carry over to the Obama administration: protecting national security with due regard for civil liberties, achieving an immigration policy that secures the nation's borders and treats lawful immigrants fairly, and identifying the proper extent and limits of presidential authority.  On November 12, Brookings Visiting Fellow Russell Wheeler moderated a panel of experts to discuss what this will mean for the Justice Department and other law enforcement agencies. Read More

About Us

The Governance Studies Program explores the formal and informal political institutions of the United States and other democratic regimes to assess how they govern, how their practices compare, and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Upcoming Events

Save to My Portfolio Facing the Future: Financing Public Schools

December 01, 2008

The Brookings Institution

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Recent Research and Commentary

Legal Architecture for the War on Terror Wrenching Choices on Guantanamo

Benjamin Wittes, November 21, 2008

Legal Architecture for the War on Terror National Security Issues in Civil Litigation

Justin Florence, Matthew Gerke, November 17, 2008

Legal Architecture for the War on Terror Closing Guantanamo

Benjamin Wittes, November 14, 2008

The Presidential Transition Transition Memo to the President-Elect

Stephen Hess, November 06, 2008

More Recent Research and Commentary »

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U.S. Politics

Immediate updates on new content about U.S. Politics – including research, events and testimony.

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Spotlight

ExpertMauricio Cárdenas

Mauricio Cárdenas is a senior fellow and director of the Latin American Initiative. Formerly minister of Economic Development and Transportation, and director of National Planning of Colombia, his research focuses on international and development economics. He is also the president of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).

ExpertDouglas W. Elmendorf

Doug Elmendorf, whose government posts have included the Federal Reserve, Treasury, Council of Economic Advisors, and CBO, focuses his research on macroeconomics and fiscal policy. He is co-editor of the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity and director of The Hamilton Project, which develops proposals for shared growth.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

ExpertJulia B. Isaacs

Julia Isaacs focuses on public investments in children and how children are affected by national budgetary policies. A former federal budget analyst, she also researches the economic mobility of children and families across the income spectrum.

Research ProjectThe Hamilton Project

The Hamilton Project produces research and policy proposals on how to create a growing economy that benefits more Americans. Their agenda also focuses on enhancing individual economic security and effective public investments. 

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertCarlos Pascual

Carlos Pascual is a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. As vice president and director of Foreign Policy, he focuses on post-conflict stabilization and international security policy.

TOPICThe Presidential Transition

During the 77 days from the election to the Inauguration, Brookings experts will offer 12 "Memos to the President" on top policy priorities across the spectrum of domestic and global challenges, plus additional advice on transitioning from campaigning to governing.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

ExpertHugh B. Price

Former president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Hugh Price is an expert on education, civil rights, equal opportunity and criminal justice. His 40-year career spans journalism, philanthropy, the law, and social advocacy.

ExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is the vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings. His studies include campaigns and elections, political advertising, mass media, public opinion, technology policy and electronic government.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert S. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.

ExpertMark B. McClellan

A medical doctor and economist, Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.