Un-repeal: Reviving the Arms Control Impact Statements

From the late 1970s into early 1990s, U.S. federal law mandated executive branch to prepare annual analytical documents known as Arms Control Impact Statements (ACIS). These instruments – obviously patterned after Environmental (EIS), which had been inaugurated only a few years previously were intended prod national security community undertake more rigorous, multi-dimensional study of major weapons programs, and provide Congress American public with enhanced information about key arms procurement decisions. However, unlike EIS process rapidly became institutionalized, has proliferated multiple tiers government around world over past fifty ACIS was conspicuous failure. It widely regarded meaningless exercise, consuming immense bureaucratic resources hardly ever changing any outcomes colossal waste time. The statute that created operation amended abolish entire program decade half fitful operation. This Article undertakes compare starkly different case histories an eye revival former, in appropriately modified form. analyzes goals legislation features accounting for success failure, makes recommendations modern ACIS, based upon lessons learned other contexts. proposal seeks underscore concept control is element sound policy, promote systematic, wide-ranging analysis support decision-making, empower legislative branch, well public, participate policy debates informed, timely manner.