Inspecting the nation's attic : Congressional oversight of the Smithsonian Institution, 2003-2012

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Authors
Luce, Andrew
Advisor
Schaal, Pamela M.
Issue Date
2014-05
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The Smithsonian Institution is the United States' national museum, which has grown immensely since its adoption by the federal government during the mid-19th century. Although considered a "small" institution, a significant portion of the Smithsonian’s total budget comes from federal government appropriations, grants, and contracts. Along with those appropriations, it is the job of the legislative branch to ensure that those funds are spent properly through different techniques of congressional oversight. In recent decades, political scientists have measured and scrutinized oversight and its relationship to divided government. This study addresses the question of whether a small, low profile institution like the Smithsonian is subject to increased oversight during times of divided government. After providing an overview of what the Smithsonian is and its relationship to the federal government, I provide a literature review on how political scientists have measured oversight. The study aggregates data on three forms of government oversight on the institution: committee hearings, appropriations, and the inspectors general. Although the data does not support the hypothesis, it supports David Mayhew’s notion that divided government has little to no effect on government oversight. While there are indications of an overall increase in oversight on the Smithsonian, political incentives are the driving force in conducting oversight on this particular institution.