An experiment in ending institutional corruption

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The Edmond J. Safra Research Center Lab on Institutional Corruption marked the end of its five-year existence May 1 and 2 with “Ending Institutional Corruption,” a “celebration” conference focusing on the lab’s accomplishments and featuring presentations by scholars, researchers, and activists.

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Trevor Potter, founding president and general counsel of the Campaign Legal Center and former chair of the Federal Election Commission, pointed out that the U.S. Supreme Court also has been playing a large role in determining the limits and boundaries of regulation.

In recent years, he said, the Court has altered its definition of corruption from a broader consideration encompassing appearances of corruption and influence to a narrow concept that sees corruption as “quid pro quo sale of official action.” The Court’s basic position now, he said, is that “gratitude and access are not corrupt in themselves because they are inherent in our system of representative and elective government.”

To read the full story at Harvard.edu, click here.

To view the video of Trevor Potter's speech, click here.