Report on Committee II

Abstract

In the committee's discussion, 3 criteria were suggested for measuring government effectiveness: (a) the degree of public approval it has; (b) the extent to which it has provided solutions to important problems of society; and (c) the extent to which it has given the public what it wants. In assessing the effectiveness of the presidency, the main theme was that the office has grown too great, is insufficiently accountable to Congress or the public, and should be cut down to size. One suggestion that met with no opposition was that Congress should spell out the con cept of high crimes and misdemeanors and set up an ongoing institutional mechanism for impeachment. In evalu ating the Legislative branch, there was general agreement that Congress was not as bad as its reputation. There was discussion and some disagreement as to the utility of procedural and structural reform.