10-year Anniversary -- 2025
Come learn about a Michigan organization that is working in Washington and nationwide to make government accountable and effective and training the next generation to preserve our democracy.
Levin Center celebrates 10 years of civic discourse, education and impact
A decade after Senator Carl Levin’s 36 years in congress came to an end, his legacy of congressional oversight continues to have a lasting impact through Wayne State University.
After Levin retired from the senate in 2014, he came to the Wayne State Law School as a faculty member and established the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. This year, the center is celebrating its 10th anniversary; an event on March 5 will commemorate the center’s official charter signing in 2015.
Legislative oversight: strengthening democracy
During his long career as a U.S. Senator, Levin developed a keen interest in making government accountable and responsible to the people. This commitment stemmed from his experience in local Detroit politics, where he witnessed corruption and incompetence at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The failure of the federal government to follow through on the implementation of new laws had devastating consequences for Detroiters, and Levin grew deeply involved in legislative oversight.
A power implied by the Constitution’s system of checks and balances, legislative oversight is the duty of Congress and the 50 state legislatures to conduct investigations. These inquiries, which can be conducted by individual lawmakers or committees, examine issues and abuses. Using facts, lawmakers can establish new or improve existing government programs to create positive change.
“Good government is impossible without good oversight,” said Jim Townsend, director of the Levin Center. “In a time of deep divisions and rising skepticism about our government, fact-based congressional oversight is more important than ever. Government in a democracy must be a conversation based on fact-finding in good faith.”
Aligning directly with Wayne State’s inaugural Year of Focus theme, “Dialogue and Discourse in Divisive Times,” the Levin Center has been dedicated to promoting civic discourse and dialogue among all levels of government. “At the Levin Center we work to equip lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and across America with the tools and know-how to bring facts to light for the benefit of all,” said Townsend.
The center also plays a critical role in educating the public about issues related to the legislative branch, such as the misrepresentation of congressional power in our current administration. While oversight is a critical part of American democracy, it often remains misunderstood, even by legislators at all levels of government.
Celebrate with us!
Jan 14 – Washington, D.C.
How Courts Are Shaping Congress' Power to Investigate - 2025
In collaboration with K&L Gates, we hosted a panel of legal experts analyzing how recent federal court decisions are shaping the ability of Congress to investigate issues and obtain information.
March 5 – Wayne Law, Detroit, MI
10-year Anniversary of Charter Signing
We celebrated the signing of our charter at Wayne State University Law School 10-years ago on March 10, 2015! We were honored to be joined by SoS Jocelyn Benson and WSU Provost Laurie Clabo. Click below for some pictures!
June 12 – 4:00 p.m. – Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Democracy on the Edge
Join us on Jun 12 as we discuss current challenges to our democratic norms and how the Levin Center addresses them in our varied and nation-wide programming.
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