Our framers assumed Congress would conduct investigations like the House of Commons where  members were considered “grand inquisitors of the realm.” When the U.S. House convened in 1789, it established a legislative process that included investigations. Thanks to @ushousehistory.bsky.social!

Professor Robert Bland (University of Tennessee Knoxville) joins the Levin Center to explore Reconstruction, Black countermemory, and the fight for multiracial democracy—from Robert Smalls to today’s lessons. #BlackHistoryMonth youtu.be/pO7-Ey9LHE4

Georgetown Law & Levin Center Scholar Dave Rapallo's new piece notes that AG Bondi’s #EpsteinFiles redactions violate federal law & House Oversight Committee's subpoena that compel their production. Congress must insist on the transparency required by law. news.bloomberglaw.com/legal-exchan...

Shame, shame, shame on the White House for posting and then defending the Obama video last night.  We are sickened to see this new low.

The 2nd Continental Congress/Congress of Confederation (1781) was our gov’t for most of the Revolutionary War, more than 8 years, making all major decisions.  It adjourned in 1789, after adoption of our Constitution, and the U.S. Congress came into being. #America250 #USA250 #Congress250

Check out Dr. Claire Leavitt's new piece on The Conversation US! Dr. Leavitt was our 2025 Excellence in Oversight Research award winner. theconversation.com/congress-has...

📘New from Brookings Press: The Folkways of Congress examines changing congressional norms—and what that means for U.S. democracy. Includes a chapter by the late Elise Bean, “Norms in Congressional Oversight Investigations: Problem Solving vs. Partisan Messaging.”

What is oversight? Check out the new content from our civic ed team, Learning by Hearings! youtu.be/JvggpPECnFM

Today is the LAST DAY to apply for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship. Early-career scholars can receive $10,000 to support original research on congressional or state legislative oversight. Apply here:

Reminder: applications for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship are due tomorrow. The $10,000 fellowship supports early-career scholars conducting research on legislative oversight. Apply now:

On 7/2/1776 the 2nd Continental Congress adopted the Lee Resolution for Independence. It “resolved” that the 13 colonies are “free and independent states.” On 7/4/1776, it adopted the Declaration of Independence, explaining the basis for the decision to be free from British rule. #America250

Applications for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship are due in three days. Early-career scholars can receive $10,000 to support research on congressional or state legislative oversight. Apply by Jan. 31:

Early-career researchers are invited to apply for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowship supports scholarly research on legislative oversight at the federal or state level. Applications due Jan. 31. levin-center.org/levin-center...

Early-career researchers are invited to apply for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowship supports scholarly research on legislative oversight at the federal or state level. Applications due Jan. 31:

The 2nd Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775, after the battle of Lexington and Concord. It established the Continental Army and elected George Washington as commander. It became apparent to many in the Congress that peace with Britain would not be possible. #USA250 #America250 #Congress250

Read our new Portrait in Oversight examining Congress’s investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It is a factual account of the Jan. 6 Committee's oversight activities, hearings, findings, recommendations, and aftermath of its work. levin-center.org/what-is-over...

CORD is growing! We’ve added the bicameral Joint Economic Committee—581 oversight reports from the 104th–119th Congresses (1995–2025), free and public. CORD now hosts 2,179 congressional oversight reports for research. cord-levin-center.org

“We live in a representative democracy. And so for that to work, people have to trust that their representatives are really working for them,” said Levin Center director @jim-townsend.bsky.social. www.wxyz.com/news/local-n...

The Levin Center is accepting applications for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship. This $10,000 fellowship supports early-career scholars conducting research on Congress or state legislative oversight. Deadline: Jan. 31. Learn more:

And so it begins… The first congress of the United States, representing 12/13 colonies (- Georgia) convened in Philadelphia on Sept. 5th in 1774 and met for 6 weeks. It tried to negotiate a relationship with Great Britain that acknowledged the rights of colonists. #Congress250 #America250 #USA250

"Every January 1st, many Americans face their failings and resolve to do better...Wouldn’t it be delightful if Congress would do the same?" asks Linda Gustitus. "Here is a list of resolutions Congress could make and keep." thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Check out the great #MLK Day events at @waynestate! wayne.edu/mlk

🧵The Levin Center is launching our #Congress250 campaign today! #USA250 #America250

Applications are now open for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship. Early-career scholars can receive $10,000 to support original research on congressional or state legislative oversight and produce a scholarly paper. Apply by Jan. 31:

In recognition of the 5th anniversary of the storming of the Capitol on January 6, we direct your attention to the book by Elise Bean and Kyle Bule: "Congress Investigates: George Washington to January 6. " The last chapter details the House Committee's work on Jan. 6. a.co/d/3Ue6NOm

Early-career scholars: applications are now open for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowship supports research on legislative oversight and the production of a scholarly paper. Apply by Jan. 31:

"Now is the time for Congress to assert its role...by insisting that the president follow the Constitution and the law by seeking and obtaining congressional authorization for its military actions in Venezuela." Read the Levin Center's full statement. levin-center.org/statement-on...

Interested in legislative oversight research? Apply for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship and receive $10,000 to support original scholarship on Congress or the 50 state legislatures. Applications due Jan. 31. Details:

Happy holidays from the Levin Center!

New report from WXYZ-TV highlights concerns over Oakland County leaders’ private business ties and calls for stronger ethics rules. Levin Center Director @jim-townsend.bsky.social says financial disclosure is key for public trust and accountability. Read/watch now! www.wxyz.com/news/local-n...

Applications are open for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship! Early-career scholars can receive $10,000 to conduct original research on congressional or state legislative oversight and produce a scholarly paper. Deadline: Jan. 31. Learn more and apply:

The Levin Center is being visited by a very good boy today!

A federal judge got it right: Congress must be able to conduct unannounced inspections of ICE detention facilities. Real oversight means real-time access—not sanitized tours or delay tactics. Transparency and accountability are not optional. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...

Applications are now open for the Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellowship! Early-career scholars can receive $10,000 to support research on legislative oversight by Congress or the 50 state legislatures and produce a scholarly paper. Apply by Jan 31 📅 Learn more & apply: levin-center.org/levin-center...

“Oversight is a cornerstone of our democracy...The work of holding government accountable is too important to leave in partisan hands," said Sen. Irwin. Michiganders deserve true oversight, which must include working together. We support this effort! michiganadvance.com/briefs/two-m...

"In @ccleavitt.bsky.social's view, good government isn’t possible without good oversight. 'The purpose of Congress is to problem solve, & you can’t solve problems if you are uninformed,' she says." @levincenter.bsky.social www.smith.edu/news-events/...

Credit to Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) for fighting against a bill to cripple NJ’s crucial watchdog agency. Democrats and Republicans alike have a duty to invest in and protect the power and independence of these agencies at the state and federal level. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/n...

Read more about Eugene Hasenfus and the Iran-Contra Affair in our Portrait in Oversight! levin-center.org/what-is-over...

As we near the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the @Levin_Center is launching #Congress250 on Jan. 12—celebrating Congress as the first branch with weekly Friday Facts. Want to contribute a fact? Submit one and join us! levin-center.org/congress-250/

Happy Giving Tuesday! What better way to celebrate than contributing to your favorite nonprofit helping to strengthen legislative oversight? www.givecampus.com/campaigns/37...

Thanks to the Wayne Lawyer for featuring coverage of our 10-Year event in the fall issue! digital.law.wayne.edu/issue/fall-2...

Our deepest thanks to the 15 million+ individuals living today who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. On Veterans Day, we honor their service - the time away from home and loved ones, the risks they took, the comrades they supported, and the disabilities many of them incurred. Thank you.

"Congress needs to fight harder than it has so far to defend this independent voice that brings to light facts that Congress and the American people need to know," following Trump's firing of more than a dozen, argues Levin Center director @jim-townsend.bsky.social. thehill.com/opinion/cong...

Check out the Levin Center's own Lauren Jasinski on WJR Radio's School Talks! She discussed our Learning by Hearings curriculum for high school civics. open.spotify.com/episode/5lQq...

Check out the new Capitol Quirks reel from our State Oversight Academy! The #Arizona legislature is full of interesting history, including a measles outbreak, a long-serving lady, and a Capitol building design that nobody wanted! www.instagram.com/p/DQmOz9-jV1g/

Happy #Halloween and don't forget to #vote!

Happy #Halloween! Some of our staff have done some impressive decorating at home. Check it out!

🎥 Missed our 2025 Oversight Research Award presentation? Prof. Leavitt of Smith College joined us to discuss how congressional #oversight evolved during the Trump administration and what those lessons reveal about the resilience of democratic institutions. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLvm...

New in the Oversight Case Law Tracker! 🔹Neguse v. ICE: Members of Congress challenge agency policy restricting access to ICE detention centers. 🔹U.S. v. Rep. McIver: Key ruling on whether congressional staff can be compelled to testify about internal cmte deliberations. levin-center.org/case-list/

STARTING SOON! Prof. Claire Leavitt (Smith College) is the recipient of our 2025 Award for Excellence in Oversight Research for “I’ll be the Oversight: Lessons from the (First) Trump Era." She will present her award-winning paper on Oct. 30 from 12:15–1:30 PM ET. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...