The Importance of Congressional Investigations

Congressional Investigations

Name ______Period ______

PART 1:

1.  Read each excerpt and provide a reason why Congress should conduct an investigation.

2.  Write a sentence or two describing why you think the investigation would be important.

Abu Ghraib

The detention center at Abu Ghraib is the location of a reputed "torture chamber of horrors" where Saddam Hussein had his political opponents tortured and hung. After being temporarily out of commission during the US-led invasion of Iraq in the spring of 2003, the prison was pressed into service again by the United States as a detention center for Iraqi detainees and suspected members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Reports surfaced in the summer of 2004 that American guards at Abu Ghraib had mistreated, abused and/or even tortured inmates under their control. Some former detainees and prison guards reported the use of dogs, sleep deprivation or other “methods” of interrogation at Abu Ghraib. In addition to this, pictures that depicted some of the alleged detainee abuse found their way into the hands of the media and onto the Internet.

1.  Reason for a Congressional investigation? ______

2.  Why important? ______

  1. Possible result? ______

Hurricane Katrina

In late August of 2005, a powerful hurricane named Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast states, especially Louisiana. Over 1400 people were killed by the hurricane, millions were left homeless, and property damage totals neared $200 billion.

Many people criticized the government for its activities before and after the hurricane hit. They claimed that the state and federal governments did not provide proper information and evacuation before the hurricane hit, and also were inadequately prepared for the after-effects of the hurricane. Any relief efforts that government eventually provided were criticized for being too little, too late.

4.  Reason for a Congressional investigation? ______

5.  Why important? ______

  1. Possible result? ______

The Use of Steroids in Baseball

A few years back, after an independent commission reported on the possibility of widespread steroid use in Major League Baseball, Congress reacted by initiating investigations in both the House and Senate. Several hearings were held, during which both former and current major leaguers testified as to whether steroids were being used by players of the “national pastime”.

7.  Reason for a Congressional investigation? ______

8.  Why important? ______

  1. Possible result? ______
  1. Do you believe that investigations into steroid use in baseball are worthwhile activities for Congress to undertake? ______Why or why not? ______

PART II: Choose 1 of the following topics, or choose the last option. For each that you choose, answer these questions:

1)  Why would Congress want to investigate and hold hearings on the issue?

2)  Who might they ask to come in and make a speech/answer questions about the issue?

3)  What kind of result could come out of the hearings?

ISIL Poverty in America Drug Abuse Among Youth

Low Voter Turnout Illegal File Sharing Corruption in Politics

Low High School Test Scores Abortion Violence in High School

Preventing Homegrown Terrorists Internet Voting

Another topic of your own…

Topic Chosen: ______

1)  Why investigate?

2)  Who would speak/answer questions?

3)  Possible result?

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