In “The Ethics Blind Spot,” Issue One analyzes and contrasts the case histories of the two ethics oversight bodies in the U.S. House of Representatives—the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Ethics—and provides much-needed context to the modern ethical culture on Capitol Hill.
The question is simple: Does the current ethics oversight process in the House and Senate foster a culture of high moral and ethical standards? Currently, the answer is no—the committees’ tepid interpretations of ethics rules and timid approach to enforcement undermines public confidence in the integrity of one of the key institutions of our democratic republic.
The report also outlines solutions to fix lax ethical oversight in both the House and Senate.
