Toward More Ethical Government: An Inspector General for the White House

13 Pages Posted: 8 May 2012 Last revised: 12 May 2012

See all articles by Kathleen Clark

Kathleen Clark

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law

Date Written: May 8, 2012

Abstract

This Symposium Article situates the independent counsel mechanism as one part of a multi-pronged effort to promote ethical government. From this perspective, the independent counsel mechanism is little more than a prosecution conflict-of-interest device. Within the context of criminal prosecution, the independent counsel mechanism is quite significant. However, ethical government does not live by criminal prosecution alone. Instead, it requires an ethical institutional culture, which includes the increased accountability that can come from administrative, rather than prosecutorial, mechanisms. This Article proposes and evaluates a new administrative mechanism, that of an inspector general for the White House.

Keywords: Government ethics, independent counsel, inspector general, White House, accountability

Suggested Citation

Clark, Kathleen, Toward More Ethical Government: An Inspector General for the White House (May 8, 2012). Mercer Law Review Vol. 49, No. 553, 1998, Washington University in St. Louis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 12-04-05, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2054652

Kathleen Clark (Contact Author)

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law ( email )

Campus Box 1120
St. Louis, MO 63130
United States
314-935-4081 (Phone)
314-935-6493 (Fax)

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