Is Efficiency Desirable in Civil Rights Enforcement?

The Trump Administration may bring significant changes to civil rights enforcement in the executive branch. If Congress agrees to the President’s recommendations, for example, the U.S. Department of Education may be eliminated. Under one scenario, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights could be integrated into the Department of Justice. Other efficiencies could be gained by consolidating other civil rights agencies. Aside from budget considerations, would efficiency gains be a desirable outcome? More broadly, should there be more institutional checks and balances on civil rights enforcement in the Executive Branch, or should the process be streamlined?

This webinar will be the third of four webinars previewing the Thirteenth Annual Executive Branch Review Conference on the topic of Theories of Presidential Power.

Featuring:

• Dr. Lindsey Burke, Director, Center for Education Policy and Mark A. Kolokotrones Fellow in Education, The Heritage Foundation
• Hon. Gail L. Heriot, Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of Law
• Hon. Catherine E. Lhamon, Former Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education; Former Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
• Prof. R. Shep Melnick, Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Professor of American Politics, Boston College; Co-Chair, Harvard Program on Constitutional Government
• (Moderator) William E. Trachman, General Counsel, Mountain States Legal Foundation, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.