Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

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Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy
Formation2015
FounderSenator Carl Levin
PurposeGovernment oversight and civil discourse
Location
Director
Jim Townsend
Websitewww.levin-center.org

The Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy is a nonpartisan organization within Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan, working to improve the ability of "legislative bodies at all levels – federal, state, and abroad – to expose public and private sector abuses, ensure effective governance, and bring critical facts to light for the benefit of all."[1] The Levin Center was founded by former U.S. Senator Carl Levin to promote bipartisan, fact-based oversight investigative techniques.

History[edit]

The Levin Center was founded in 2015, at Wayne State University Law School by former U.S. Senator Carl Levin and his long-time staff members Elise Bean and Linda Gustitus.[2][3] The center has offices in Detroit, Michigan, and Washington, D.C., and focuses on training legislators and staff, promoting scholarship and academic programming, and hosting conferences on important issues in oversight.[4]

Jocelyn Benson, then dean of Wayne State University Law School, served as the first director of the Levin Center from September 2016 to August 2017. She was succeeded by Robert Ackerman,[5] who led the center until November 2019, at which time its current director, Jim Townsend, assumed the role.[6]

The Levin Center at Wayne Law changed its name to the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy in April 2022.[7]

Funding[edit]

The Levin Center receives financial support for its endowment and operations from a wide variety of sources including: individuals, family foundations, national and regional charitable foundations, the U.S. Department of Education, and Wayne State University.[8][9][10][11]

Oversight Training[edit]

The Levin Center provides training to improve bipartisan, fact-based, effective oversight by legislative bodies.

National[edit]

The Levin Center, along with the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and the Lugar Center, holds Oversight Boot Camps for congressional staff in Washington, D.C. These two-day training sessions teach staff members from the U.S. House and Senate, from both democrat and republican offices, how to conduct bipartisan, fact-based oversight investigations. The first boot camp was held in August 2015.[12][13] In 2019, the Levin Center also began offering Clerk Workshops for administrative personnel who support congressional oversight investigations.[14]

The Levin Center began offering online tutorials in 2017. The website includes short videos on topics related to fact-finding, bipartisan techniques, writing investigative reports, holding hearings, and finding solutions.[15]

The Levin Center has provided testimony at congressional hearings on oversight, including the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts[16] and House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.[17][18][19] In addition, it has developed a series of Portraits in Oversight describing notable congressional investigations,[20][21] and also tracks important cases in the federal courts litigating oversight issues.[22][23]

State[edit]

The Levin Center offers workshops for state legislators and their staffs on how to conduct bipartisan, fact-based oversight investigations. The center has conducted workshops, for example, in California, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.[24] It has also led workshops and presentations at meetings of the National Council of Insurance Legislators, National Conference of State Legislatures, and Council of State Governments West.[24][25] In addition, the Levin Center has offered online webinars addressing specific oversight skills.[26]

In 2018, the Levin Center sponsored a comprehensive study on the oversight capabilities and mechanisms in the 50 state legislatures.[27] It has also sponsored research on other state-level oversight topics.[28][29] In addition, the Levin Center has provided testimony to some state legislatures regarding their current oversight capabilities and recommended improvements.[30][31] In March 2023, it launched the State Oversight Academy to further focus on state-level oversight.[32]

International[edit]

In December 2015, the Levin Center partnered with the Anti-Corruption Action Center to conduct an oversight workshop in Kiev, Ukraine, with Ukrainian Parliamentary staffers.[33][34] In October 2016, Center staff travelled to Brussels, Belgium to hold a two-day training workshop for a European Parliamentary investigative committee.[34] In 2021, the Levin Center provided online training on two occasions to European Parliamentary staff.[35]

Students[edit]

The Levin Center has partnered with the YMCA Youth and Government program which helps high school students conduct mock oversight hearings on relevant topics, such as social media surveillance by schools.[36][37]

Conferences and Events[edit]

The Levin Center has held conferences on topics including congressional oversight of classified programs, the role of executive privilege in congressional investigations, offshore multinational corporate tax reform, immigration law issues, the role of Inspectors General in congressional oversight, gerrymandering, oversight of science and technology policy, emerging oversight case law, and infrastructure oversight.[38]

The center has also hosted individual panels on a variety of topics to improve oversight and civil discourse. Topics have included congressional oversight databases, the role of congressional oversight in battling cybersecurity threats, civilian oversight of law enforcement, oversight of emergency government contracts during the pandemic, election audits, and post-election analyses.[38]

Awards[edit]

Since 2018, the Levin Center has periodically presented the Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight "to one or more individuals who have played a central role in an oversight investigation conducted on a bipartisan basis with a dedication to fact-finding."[39] Past winners include South Carolina State Representative Weston J. Newton;[40] the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's chair, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, and vice chair, Mark Warner of Virginia;[41] and Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser Blouin.[42][39]

Beginning in 2020, the Levin Center has issued an annual Award for Excellence in Oversight Research to a scholar who submits an "original, timely, publishable scholarly work in the form of an academic article, book chapter, or written product of similar magnitude" on matters of legislative oversight.[43][44] Past recipients include Professor Emily Berman of the University of Houston Law Center[45] and Professors Kevin Stack and Michael Vandenbergh of Vanderbilt University Law School.[46][43]

In 2021, the Levin Center launched an oversight fellowship program to provide financial support to non-resident scholars conducting research into oversight issues involving Congress or state legislatures. Past Levin Center Oversight Fellows include Kenneth Lowande from the University of Michigan, Claire Leavitt of Grinnell College, Devin Judge-Lord of Harvard University, Christina Kinane of Yale University, and Josh McCrain of the University of Utah.[47][48]

Internships/Externships[edit]

Since 2016, the Levin Center has selected and provided stipends to Wayne Law students who spend the summer working on Capitol Hill as legal interns at congressional committees conducting oversight.[49][50] Interns have worked on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senate Committee on Finance,[51][52] House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, House Committee on Financial Services, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations,[53] House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Oversight and Reform,[54] House Committee on Ways and Means, and others.[55]

Beginning in 2021, the Levin Center helped create and support a law school externship program in conjunction with the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights and the Wayne Law Experiential Learning program entitled, "Lawyering in the Nation's Capital." Wayne Law students in the program spend a semester in Washington, D.C., working with congressional oversight committees or civil rights organizations.[56][50]

Podcast[edit]

In January 2021, the Levin Center launched a podcast series on legislative oversight called, "Oversight Matters," to explore important oversight issues. Guests have included Senator Carl Levin, Deputy Chief Counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee Rufus Edmisten, Nebraska State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, and New York Times investigative reporter Jesse Drucker. It is hosted by Ben Eikey.[57][58]

Notable Advisory Board Members[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Center". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  2. ^ "Carl Levin to join Wayne State faculty, chair new law center". Crain's Detroit Business. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  3. ^ a b "The Secretary of State". www.michigan.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  4. ^ "Carrying on the Levin Legacy: The Levin Center Promotes Bipartisan, Fact-Based Governing". Detroit Regional Chamber. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  5. ^ "Robert Ackerman named director of Levin Center at Wayne Law". Law School. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  6. ^ "Wayne Law appoints new Levin Center director". Law School. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. ^ "Levin Center Announces New Name". The Detroit Jewish News. 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  8. ^ "About". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  9. ^ "Wayne State University gets $200,000 for Levin Center". The Detroit News. The Associated Press. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  10. ^ "Wayne State University – for support of the Levin Center at Wayne Law School". Hewlett Foundation. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  11. ^ "Wayne State University". Democracy Fund. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  12. ^ "Oversight Boot Camps". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  13. ^ "Oversight Boot Camps". Project On Government Oversight. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  14. ^ "Clerk Workshops". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  15. ^ "Online Tutorials". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  16. ^ "Civil Enforcement of Congressional Authorities". U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  17. ^ "Testimony before the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress on Strengthening Oversight Investigations" (PDF). Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  18. ^ "New Testimony before House Select Committee on Modernization of Congress". Levin Center. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  19. ^ Hearing: Article One: Strengthening Congressional Oversight Capacity, retrieved 2022-10-24
  20. ^ "Portraits in Oversight". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  21. ^ "Levin Center releases 'Portrait in Oversight' on 9-11 terrorist attack > Detroit Legal News". www.legalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  22. ^ "Oversight Case Law". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  23. ^ "Levin Center at Wayne Law launches website on congressional oversight case law". Law School. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  24. ^ a b "Oversight Workshops". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  25. ^ "Legislative Exchange: Ensuring Transparency, Accountability and Efficiency of U.S. Infrastructure Investments". CSG West. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  26. ^ Asking Better Oversight Hearing Questions – State Legislator Workshop – Oct 7, 2021, retrieved 2022-10-24
  27. ^ Thompson, L.; Sarbaugh-Thompson, M. (2019). "Checks and Balances in Action" (PDF). Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  28. ^ Sarbaugh-Thomson, M.; Giallombardo, J.; Kammer, S.; Lardner, M. (2021). "Legislative oversight of state government contracts" (PDF). Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  29. ^ "Oversight of ARPA Spending in the States – CSG Fiscal Policy". Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  30. ^ "Congressional & State Testimony". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  31. ^ Bean, E.; Eickey, B. (2021-07-20). "Testimony of Levin Center at Wayne Law before Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Hearing on Emergency Contracts" (PDF). Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  32. ^ Townsend, Jim. "Opinion: New Levin Center academy offers Michigan better legislative oversight". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  33. ^ "Levin Center at Wayne Law provides oversight training in Ukraine". Law School. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  34. ^ a b "Levin Center Provides Accountability Training to Foreign Governments". IELR Blog. 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  35. ^ margaux (2021-04-23). "Levin Center joins EU Parliament Innovation Day". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  36. ^ "For High School Students". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  37. ^ "YMCA Michigan Youth in Government – Legislative Oversight". www.myig.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  38. ^ a b "Conferences & Events". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  39. ^ a b "Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  40. ^ "Inaugural Levin oversight award going to South Carolina rep. > Oakland County Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  41. ^ "Senators Richard Burr and Mark Warner Receive The Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight" (PDF). Wayne State University Law School. 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  42. ^ Terry, Lynne (2021-12-06). "Oregon state senator honored for pressing for fixes to Oregon's foster care system". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  43. ^ a b "Award for Excellence in Oversight Research". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  44. ^ "Daily Briefs > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  45. ^ "Berman wins 2020 Levin Center Award for Excellence in Oversight Research > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  46. ^ "Kevin Stack and Michael Vandenbergh receive Levin Center's 2021 Excellence in Oversight Research Award for their paper, "Oversight Riders"". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  47. ^ "Oversight Fellowship Program". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  48. ^ "Levin Center announces 2022 Oversight Fellows > Detroit Legal News". www.legalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  49. ^ "Internship Overview". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  50. ^ a b "Public Interest Externships & Internships". www.americanbar.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  51. ^ "2022 Congressional Interns Announced". Levin Center. 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  52. ^ "Levin Center announces 2022 congressional interns > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  53. ^ "Levin Center Announces 2021 Congressional Interns". Levin Center. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  54. ^ "Levin Center announces interns for summer program with congressional committee offices". Law School. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  55. ^ "Levin Center at Wayne Law sends 6 legal interns to Capitol Hill". Law School. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  56. ^ "Externships". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  57. ^ "Oversight Matters Podcast". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  58. ^ "Oversight Matters on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  59. ^ a b c "Levin Center Advisory Board". Levin Center. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  60. ^ a b "Carl Levin touts his Wayne State center for good governance". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
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