This article deals with the problems of regulating executive branch advertising and publicity programs. Over the years, these programs have been the object of several laws intended to restrict their growth. However, the volume of these activities, along with specific examples of agency circumvention of limitations, shows that the general legal restrictions have not been effective. The Reagan Administration has developed a model control system to deal with executive branch publicity activities. It, too, is found wanting by the authors. They suggest that a number of persistent unresolved problems will have to be addressed in developing laws and regulations in this area.
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