Browse Projects by Stage

Research Process

Click on a number below to display the list of projects currently in that stage

Implementation

Gather ideas

Select ideas

Consideration by
the Full
Conference

Council
approval

Back to
the Council

Committee consideration

Picking a
researcher

Committee Consideration

Committees	Projects
Administration and Management	GPRA Modernization Act of 2010: Examining Constraints To, and Providing Tools For, Cross-Agency Collaboration
Collaborative Governance	Reducing FOIA Litigation Through Targeted ADR Strategies
Rulemaking	Social Media in Rulemaking

How the Conference Makes Recommendations

Stage 1: Gather ideasThe Conference gathers project ideas from many sources: from Congress, from other federal agencies, from public interest or other organizations, from academics and other experts, and from members of the public. The Conference staff also develops project ideas.Stage 2: Select ideasThe Chairman, the Director of Research and Policy, and other Conference staff select the best project ideas received.Stage 3: Council approvalFor projects that will require funding for outside study, the Chairman seeks approval from the Council of the Conference.Stage 4: Picking a researcherHaving identified a project topic, the Conference typically engages an expert consultant to do research and prepare a report and recommendation on the topic. Some research projects are done by the Conference staff.Stage 5: Committee considerationThe researcher's report is considered by a committee made up of members of the Administrative Conference. The committee debates the report and formulates a recommendation on the subject of the report.Depending on the topic, the recommendation may be directed to Congress (recommending new legislation); it may recommend that agencies adopt new rules; it may recommend that agencies change their practices without the need for rulemaking; it may be directed to the courts; or more generally it will be addressed to whoever are the appropriate actors based on the topic.Stage 6: Back to the CouncilThe committee's recommendation is considered by the Council of the Conference, which adds its views.Stage 7: Consideration by the Full ConferenceTwice a year, the full membership of the Administrative Conference meets in plenary session and considers and debates the recommendations received from Conference committees. If approved by vote of the full membership, a recommendation becomes an official recommendation of the Administrative Conference.Stage 8: ImplementationThe Administrative Conference has no formal power to compel anyone to adopt its recommendations. Members and staff of the Conference will participate in attempting to get the Conference's recommendations implemented. Although the Conference has no formal power, historically it has had considerable influence and many of its recommendations have been adopted.