In the fall of 2002, the Continuity of Government Commission was launched to study and make recommendations for the continuity of our government institutions after a catastrophic attack. September 11 raises the possibility that foreign enemies might seriously disrupt the filling of vacancies in Congress, presidential succession, and achieving a quorum for the Court so much so that our basic institutions might not function in a normal constitutional manner.

Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford are the honorary co-chairs and Lloyd Cutler and Alan Simpson are the commission chairmen. The commission consists of members who have served in government at the highest levels. Norman J. Ornstein, AEI, and Thomas Mann, Brookings, are senior counselors. John C. Fortier of AEI is the executive director. The commission met twice in the fall of 2002 and issued a report in January of 2003. It is an American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution project, funded by the Carnegie, Hewlett, Packard, and MacArthur Foundations.