Science and technology advice for Congress / edited by M. Granger Morgan, Jon M. Peha.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Morgan, M. Granger (Millett Granger), 1941-

Peha, Jon M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Congress. Office of Technology Assessment.

United States.

Science and state--United States.

Science and state.

Technology and state--United States.

Technology and state.

Physical Description:

xii, 236 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Resources for the Future, [2003]

Summary:

The elimination of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in 1995 left Congress without an institutional arrangement to bring expert scientific and technological advice into the process of legislative decision-making. This deficiency has become increasingly critical, as more and more of the decisions faced by Congress and society require judgements based on highly specialized technical information. Offering perspectives from scholars and scientists with diverse academic backgrounds and extensive experience within the policy process, the book breaks from the politics of the OTA and its contentious aftermath. The authors begin with an overview of the use of technical information in framing policy issues, crafting legislation, and the overall process of governing. The contributors continue with a discussion of why OTA was created. The second part of the book responds to request from congressional leaders for practical solutions.

Contents:

1. Analysis, Governance, and the Need for Better Institutional Arrangements / M. Granger Morgan, Jon M. Peha 3

2. Technical Advice for Congress: Past Trends and Present Obstacles / Bruce L.R. Smith, Jeffrey K. Stine 23

3. The Origins, Accomplishments, and Demise of the Office of Technology Assessment / Robert M. Margolis, David H. Guston 53

4. Insights from the Office of Technology Assessment and Other Assessment Experiences / David H. Guston 77

5. The European Experience / Norman J. Vig 90

Part III Possible Institutional Models

6. Thinking about Alternative Models / M. Granger Morgan, Jon M. Peha 101

7. An Expanded Analytical Capability in the Congressional Research Service, the General Accounting Office, or the Congressional Budget Office / Christopher T. Hill 106

8. Expanded Use of the National Academies / John Ahearne, Peter Blair 118

9. Expanding the Role of the Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program / Albert H. Teich, Stephen J. Lita 134

10. A Lean, Distributed Organization To Serve Congress / M. Granger Morgan, Jon M. Peha, Daniel E. Hastings 145

11. A Dedicated Organization in Congress / Gerald L. Epstein, Ashton B. Carter 157

12. An Independent Analysis Group That Works Exclusively for Congress, Operated by a Nongovernmental Organization / Caroline S. Wagner, William A. Stiles Jr. 164

Part IV Moving toward Solution

Appendix 1 The Technology Assessment Act of 1972 183

Appendix 2 Details on the National Academies Complex 191

Appendix 3 An External Evaluation of the GAO's First Pilot Technology Assessment 208.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1891853759

1891853740

OCLC:

52518765