Our Partisan Bureaucracy?
When the first Civil Service Reform Act passed in 1883, “good government” reformers envisioned nonpartisan civil servants fairly administering the federal bureaucracy. From the vantage point of 2016, it is clear this dream has turned into a nightmare. Supposedly nonpartisan administrative agencies have often proven to be anything but. The executive branch increasingly treats agencies like the IRS and the DOJ not as impartial regulators, but as partisan weapons for intimidating political opponents.
This type of abuse raises serious questions about the First Amendment, the power of the administrative state, and the very nature of our government. How can courageous nonprofits fight back against harassment? Will the Courts step in to protect citizens’ right to engage in political activism? How can we resist this kind of administrative tyranny?
Co-sponsored by the Federalist Society
Panelists:
John Eastman
Founding Director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Claremont Institute
Henry Salvatori Professor of Law & Community Service and former dean, Chapman University
Cleta Mitchell
Partner and Political Law Attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP
Dean Reuter (moderator)
Vice President & Director, Practice Groups, Federalist Society
Hans von Spakovsky
Manager, Election Law Reform Initiative and Senior Legal Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
Robert Weiner
Partner, Arnold & Porter
DATE:
Thursday, April 14, 2016, 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
The National Press Club | The Murrow Room, 13th floor
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20045
