Investigating New York: Governor Alfred E. Smith, The Moreland Act, and Reshaping New York State Government.

摘要

By examining Governor Alfred E. Smith's use of gubernatorial investigations sanctioned by law under the under the Moreland Act, this work details his efforts to transform New York State government from a chaotic system of boards, bureaus, commissions, and departments to a streamlined cabinet-style executive branch dominated by a strong governor. Hindered by a state constitution which severely limited gubernatorial power, Smith utilized one of the few tools open to governors to draw attention to, and then change, state government: executive investigation. In order to gain control of state administrative, budgetary, and public policy initiatives Smith challenged legislative leaders and unresponsive department heads to enact reform after his investigations uncovered corruption and inefficiency.;This study explains how Smith methodically plotted a logical course of government restructuring based on investigation. Smith's efforts exercised a broad appeal to the citizenry highlighting both the need for government accountability and the benefits of government reform. The reforms would enable Governor Smith to push for progressive legislation granting much power to the state's chief executive officer, who in turn, Smith stressed, could be held accountable by the electorate. Smith's fourteen Moreland Act investigations complimented other government reform efforts, his 1919 Reconstruction Commission, the 1925 Hughes Commission report implementing constitutional restructuring amendments, and the 1915 failed Constitutional Convention, and were an integral part of his campaign to remake state government. By the end of Smith's tenure as governor New York State had undergone a wholesale change strengthening the state's chief executive and reordering state government. Smith's transformative efforts enabled future governors to hold subordinate executive branch employees accountable, check the power of the legislature in state administration, and established the governor as the state's leading administrative, budgetary, and policy making official.