National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement

National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement
Harris & Ewing, photographer · Public domain · source
Agency name	National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement
Formed	1929
Dissolved	1931
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent agency	United States Department of Justice

National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement was established by President Herbert Hoover in 1929 to investigate the Volstead Act and Prohibition in the United States. The commission was tasked with examining the enforcement of Prohibition in the United States and making recommendations for improvement, with notable figures such as George Wickersham and Newton D. Baker playing key roles. The commission's work was influenced by the American Bar Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with J. Edgar Hoover providing significant input. The commission's findings would ultimately contribute to the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed Prohibition in the United States.

● Introduction

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement was a significant undertaking, with President Herbert Hoover appointing prominent figures such as George Wickersham as chairman, and Newton D. Baker and William S. Kenyon as members. The commission's mandate was to investigate the Volstead Act and Prohibition in the United States, with a focus on organized crime and corruption in Chicago, Illinois, New York City, and New Orleans, Louisiana. The commission's work was informed by the American Bar Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with J. Edgar Hoover providing significant input. The commission also drew on the expertise of Roscoe Pound and Felix Frankfurter, who were both prominent Harvard Law School professors.

● History

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement was established in response to growing concerns about Prohibition in the United States and its enforcement, with Al Capone and Lucky Luciano being notable figures in organized crime. The commission's work was influenced by the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Volstead Act, which had been passed in 1919. The commission's investigations were also informed by the Wickersham Commission's predecessors, including the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. The commission's work was also influenced by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, with Roger Baldwin and Walter White playing key roles.

● Organization and Membership

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement was composed of 11 members, including George Wickersham, Newton D. Baker, and William S. Kenyon. The commission was divided into several subcommittees, each focusing on a specific aspect of Prohibition in the United States, such as organized crime and corruption. The commission's staff included notable figures such as Virgil Peterson and Kenneth Richmond, who were both experts on organized crime. The commission's work was also informed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice, with J. Edgar Hoover and William D. Mitchell playing key roles.

● Prohibition Era Investigations

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement conducted extensive investigations into Prohibition in the United States, with a focus on organized crime and corruption in Chicago, Illinois, New York City, and New Orleans, Louisiana. The commission's investigations were informed by the Volstead Act and the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, with Al Capone and Lucky Luciano being notable figures in organized crime. The commission's work was also influenced by the American Bar Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with J. Edgar Hoover providing significant input. The commission's investigations led to the Seabury Commission and the McClellan Committee, which further examined organized crime and corruption.

● Reports and Recommendations

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement issued several reports and recommendations, including the Wickersham Report, which was published in 1931. The report highlighted the failures of Prohibition in the United States and recommended significant reforms, including the repeal of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The commission's recommendations were influenced by the American Bar Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with J. Edgar Hoover providing significant input. The commission's work also drew on the expertise of Roscoe Pound and Felix Frankfurter, who were both prominent Harvard Law School professors. The commission's reports and recommendations ultimately contributed to the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed Prohibition in the United States.

● Legacy and Impact

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement had a significant impact on the United States, with its reports and recommendations contributing to the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed Prohibition in the United States. The commission's work also influenced the development of organized crime policy, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice playing key roles. The commission's legacy can be seen in the work of the American Bar Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, with Roger Baldwin and Walter White playing key roles. The commission's impact can also be seen in the War on Drugs and the War on Crime, with Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan being notable figures in these efforts. The commission's work continues to be studied by scholars, including David Musto and Mark Kleiman, who are both experts on drug policy and crime policy.

Category:United States government commissions