What is congressional oversight and how strongly is it pursued by Congress?

What will be an ideal response?


Congressional oversight is the responsibility of Congress to see that the executive branch carries out laws faithfully and spends money properly. Oversight is carried out largely through the committee system of Congress, with each standing committee overseeing part of the executive branch. The biggest obstacle to effective oversight is the sheer magnitude of the task. With its several million employees and huge budget, the bureaucracy is beyond comprehensive scrutiny. Oversight is not vigorously pursued unless members of Congress are annoyed with an agency, have discovered that a legislative authorization is being abused, or are intending to modify an agency program. Congress tends toward disinterest in oversight if the presidency is the target and the president is of the same party as the congressional majority.

Political Science

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Which of the following is true of the right to petition the government?

A) It prohibits citizens from suing the government. B) It is guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution. C) It is a right limited to the members of Congress. D) It forbids citizens from demanding redress of grievances. E) It allows citizens and groups of citizens to lobby members of Congress.

Political Science

How many presidential elections did Franklin D. Roosevelt win?

A. one B. two C. three D. four

Political Science

The institution charged with managing the nation's monetary policy, usually through setting of interest rates, is the

a. General Accounting Office. b. Federal Reserve Board. c. National Records Service. d. Department of the Treasury. e. Council of Economic Advisors

Political Science

__________ is the right of the executive branch to withhold information from Congress and the public

a. Executive immunity c. Separation of powers b. Executive agreement d. Executive privilege

Political Science