Congress Underestimated: The Case of the World Bank

Abstract:     
Using the World Bank as a case study, this Article casts doubt on the empirical foundation for the claim that international organizations undermine democracy by undermining legislatures. The Article suggests, moreover, that the conventional wisdom about foreign affairs dominance in foreign affairs may be overstated — especially outside the context of wars and crises. Over the past forty years, Congress has undertaken persistent, sometimes parochial, and often successful efforts to shape day-to-day U.S. participation in a key international organization. Some of Congress’s methods for doing so may contravene constitutional limits on its authority — but the executive branch’s arguments that they do have not held Congress back.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 62

Keywords: foreign affairs, congress, world bank

JEL Classification: K33

Accepted Paper Series