Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This study examines the function and effectiveness of congressional committee investigations through a detailed case study of a 1960 inquiry into the Granite City Engineer Depot. The project establishes that congressional investigations serve three primary purposes: providing detailed information for legislation, influencing public opinion, and acting as a watchdog over executive departments. The specific case focuses on the House Government Operations Committee and its Reorganization subcommittee as they investigated the Army Corps of Engineers for exceeding statutory cost limitations on a housing project in Granite City, Illinois. 

The General Accounting Office initially discovered that the Corps of Engineers had exceeded a $642,000 limitation by approximately $223,000. Investigators found that the Corps attempted to circumvent congressional oversight by unbalancing bids, shifting costs from restricted housing items to unrestricted categories like utilities and landscaping. Furthermore, the Corps was charged with violating the Anti-Deficiency Act by failing to report these excess expenditures to the President and Congress. While the Army defended its actions by citing a need for rapid construction and arguing that no technical violation occurred, the subcommittee unanimously concluded that the Corps had disregarded legislative control over government spending. 

The results of the investigation included recommendations for administrative changes, potential civil or criminal action by the Department of Justice, and a revision of procurement regulations. This inquiry served as a catalyst, prompting the Army to amend its regulations to prevent future unbalancing of bids. Ultimately, the study evaluates the investigative system as a vital component of the American checks and balances framework, concluding that despite some inefficiencies, such hearings are essential for maintaining a dynamic and accountable government.

Publication Date

1-1961

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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