On July 2nd, 2009, the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission released its second report, Preserving Our Institutions - Presidential Succession. Click here for more information. To read the full report, click here.
In the News:
Swine Flu highlights importance of improving continuity procedures
September 11th raised
the possibility that foreign enemies might seriously disrupt the filling
of vacancies in Congress, presidential succession, and achieving a quorum
for the Court so much so that our basic institutions might not function
in a normal constitutional manner. In the fall of 2002, the Continuity of Government Commission
was launched to study and make recommendations for the continuity of our
government institutions after a catastrophic attack.
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Recent articles
Recent opinion pieces
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President Jimmy Carter is honorary chairman and Alan Simpson and David Pryor are the commission's co-chairmen. The commission consists of members who have served in government at the highest levels. Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute and Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution are senior counselors. The commission met twice in the fall of 2002 and issued a report on the Continuity of Congress in January 2003. It is joint American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution project, funded by the Carnegie, Hewlett, Packard, and MacArthur Foundations. For more information, see About the Commission.
Contact your Representative:
To write to your Representative, go to: http://www.house.gov/writerep/.
Relevant CRS Reports:
National Continuity Policy: A Brief Overview - Updated June 8, 2007
House Vacancies: Selected Proposals for Filling
Them After a Catastrophic Loss of Members - Updated June 3, 2004
Continuity of Government:
Current Federal Arrangements and the Future - Updated January 7, 2005
Continuity of Congress: Enacted and Proposed
Federal Statutes for Expedited Election to the
House in Extraordinary Circumstances -
Updated August 9, 2005
Continuity of Operations (COOP) in the Executive
Branch: Background and Issues for Congress -Updated August 21, 2003
Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) on March 20, 2002
The Associated Press reports:"Capitol briefly evacuated, White House locked down"
On March 11, 2009 the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss the Feingold amendment.
On March 11, 2009, the New York Times published an article about Senator Russ Feingold's (D-WI) amendment to fill senate vacancies through special elections instead of gubernatorial appointments.
Norman Ornstein in his Roll Call article on February 25, 2009 and John Fortier in hisPolitico article on March 2, 2009 discuss issues of continuity in the context of the Feingold Amendment seeking to change the current Senate appointment process.
Senator Russ Feingold's "Statement on Introduction of a Constitutional Amendment Concerning Senate Vacancies," Thursday, January 29, 2009.
Norman Ornstein discusses the importance of continuity of Congress in his Roll Call article on January 28, 2009.
On December 23, 2008, USA Today reported that the Bush administration has been preparing comprehensive homeland security briefs to help avert potential crisis during the presidential transition.
In his Roll Call article on December 10, 2008, Norman Ornstein explains that the attacks in Mumbai should serve as yet another "wake-up call" for Congress to implement a continuity plan.
An article on presidential succession appeared in the Wall Street Journal on November 13, 2008.
A new National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive was issued on May 9, 2007.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) introduced S.1427, the Federal Emergency Managment Act of 2007 on May 17, 2007. It was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced HR.540,
the Presidential Succession Act of 2007 on January 17, 2007. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties.
July 2, 2009 • 9:00am - 12:00pm
Preserving Our Institutions - Presidential Succession
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
October 23, 2008 •
10:15am - 12:00pm
When Disaster Strikes: The Continuity of Our Elections
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
October 27, 2003 •
10:00am - 3:45pm
Hearing on Potential Reforms to the Presidential Succession System
Dirksen Senate Office Building,
Room SD-226
June 4, 2003 • 10:00am - 11:30am
Continuity of Congress After a Catastrophic Terrorist Attack
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
The Continuity of Government Commission issued its first report
on Continuity of Congress at this press conference.
October 16, 2002 •
10:00am - 12:00pm
Second Commission Meeting
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
September 23, 2002 • 10:00am - 4:00pm
First Commission Meeting
House Administration Committee
Longworth House Office Building
Room 1310
For more information please contact Jennifer Marsico atjennifer.marsico@aei.org or 202.862.5899..
Commission Meetings | Commission Report | jennifer.marsico@aei.org