NCJ Number
69070
Editor(s)
D JONES
Date Published
1980
Length
215 pages
Annotation
A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORIC OVERVIEW IS GIVEN OF GENERAL ISSUES AND SPECIFIC CASES RELATING TO CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS, AND CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO REGULATE THE BEHAVIOR OF FEDERAL LEGISLATORS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ONE MAJOR SECTION DETAILS RECENT HEADLINE--MAKING CONGRESSIONAL SCANDALS, SUCH AS ABSCAM AND KOREAGATE, AND OTHER ETHICS-RELATED CASES SINCE 1976; THE EFFORTS OF CONGRESS TO DEAL WITH THESE SCANDALS WHILE REVAMPING ITS CODES OF CONDUCT ARE DESCRIBED. A SECOND MAJOR SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION EXAMINES THE VARIOUS BENEFITS TO WHICH A MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS HEIR--PAY, PRIVILEGES, OUTSIDE EARNINGS, OFFICE ALLOWANCES, COMPUTER AND DIRECT MAIL BENEFITS, TELEVISED FLOOR DEBATE, TRAVEL, AND POLITICAL PATRONAGE. ABUSES OF SUCH PRIVILEGES ARE DISCUSSED. A THIRD SECTION CONSIDERS THE ROLE OF SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND SUMMARIZES EFFORTS TO BRING THE INFLUENCE OF LOBBIES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. A FINAL SECTION TRACES THE HISTORY OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS CASES SINCE CONGRESS' BEGINNING NEARLY 200 YEARS AGO AND OUTLINES THE STATUTORY AND INTRAMURAL PROVISIONS BY WHICH CONGRESS ATTEMPTS TO REGULATE THE ETHICAL BEHAVIOR OF ITS MEMBERS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)