Science and Technology Advice for Congress

The elimination of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in 1995 left Congress without an institutional arrangement to bring expert scientific and technological advice into the process of legislative decision-making. This deficiency has become increasingly critical, as more and more of the decisions faced by Congress and society require judgements based on highly specialized technical information. Offering perspectives from scholars and scientists with diverse academic backgrounds and extensive experience within the policy process, the book breaks from the politics of the OTA and its contentious aftermath. The authors begin with an overview of the use of technical information in framing policy issues, crafting legislation, and the overall process of governing. The contributors continue with a discussion of why OTA was created. The second part of the book responds to request from congressional leaders for practical solutions.

Sommario

Preface
Contributors Part I: The Issue
1. Analysis, Governance, and the Need for Better Institutional Arrangements
M. Granger Morgan and Jon M. Peha
Part II: Background
2. Technical Advice for Congress: Past Trends and Present Obstacles
Bruce L.R. Smith and Jeffrey K. Stine
3. The Origins, Accomplishments, and Demise of the Office of Technology Assessment
Robert M. Margolis and David H. Guston
4. Insights from the Office of Technology Assessment and Other Assessment Experiences David H. Guston
5. The European Experience
Norman J. Vig
Contents
Part III: Possible Institutional Models
6. Thinking about Alternative Models
M. Granger Morgan and Jon M. Peha
7. An Expanded Analytical Capability in the Congressional Research Service, the General Accounting Office, or the Congressional Budget Office
Christopher T. Hill
8. Expanded Use of the National Academies
John Ahearne and Peter Blair
9. Expanding the Role of the Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program
Albert H. Teich and Stephen J. Lita
10. A Lean, Distributed Organization To Serve Congress
M. Granger Morgan, Jon M. Peha, and Daniel E. Hastings
11. A Dedicated Organization in Congress
Gerald L. Epstein and Ashton B. Carter
12. An Independent Analysis Group That Works Exclusively for Congress, Operated by a Nongovernmental Organization
Caroline S. Wagner and William A. Stiles Jr.
Part IV: Moving toward Solution
13. Where Do We Go from Here?
M. Granger Morgan and Jon M. Peha
Appendix 1: The Technology Assessment Act of 1972
Appendix 2: Details on the National Academies Complex
Appendix 3: An External Evaluation of the GAO‘s First Pilot
Technology Assessment
Index
About the Editors

Info autore

M. Granger Morgan is professor and head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Lord Chair Professor in Engineering, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and professor in the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University.

Riassunto

The elimination of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in 1995 came during a storm of budget cutting and partisan conflict. Offering perspectives from scholars and scientists with diverse academic backgrounds and extensive experience within the policy process, this title breaks from the politics of the OTA and its contentious aftermath.

Testo aggiuntivo

'Deserves to be read by every person concerned with the quality of technical input that Congress needs to absorb.'
Amory Houghton, Jr., Former U.S. Representative

'In a climate where the objectivity and relevance of science seems nearly everywhere subjected to political scrutiny, [this book] is refreshing, if not poignant. . . . This little volume is positioned to help Congress think carefully about their own knowledge gaps and appropriate ways to close them.'
Step Ahead, APSA

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: M. Granger Morgan, M. Granger Morgan, Jon Peha, Jon M. Peha
• Editore: Taylor and Francis
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 31.12.2021
• EAN: 9781891853746
• ISBN: 978-1-891853-74-6
• Pagine: 228
• Peso: 362 g
• Illustrazioni: Farb., s/w. Abb.
• Categoria: Scienze sociali, diritto, economia > Scienze politiche > Politica e sua amministrazione