Is Congress Effective in Exercising Legislative

Is Congress Effective in Exercising Legislative Oversight of the Federal Bureaucracy? Nick Gainey Josh Michael Nick Fazio

Two Specific Methods Congress uses to Exercise Effective Oversight of the Federal Bureaucracy

• Oversight through Committees

• Oversight through Congressional Offices

Oversight through Committees

Authorization Committee

Appropriations

Committee

Government Operations Committee

Authorization Committee Originally establishes and authorizes government programs and agencies. Example : The House Armed Services Committee is in charge of all military programs in the House of Representatives.

• http://video.foxnews.com/ v/4401027/how-will-newcongress-tackle-war-onterror/

Appropriations Committee Check and Approve Agencies’ Budgets for the Federal Government Budget Each Year

Government Operations Committees Coordinate Congressional Concern over Governmental Operations Examples : Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Governmental Reform.

Oversight through Congressional Offices

General Accounting Office

Congressional Research Service

Congressional Budget Office

General Accounting Office Performs the Task of Program Evaluation by Auditing and Judging Administration of a Program

Congressional Research Service Gathers information on activities and performance of various agencies to assist members in Congress

Congressional Budget Office Gathers information on budgets of various agencies for their report to the (OMB) Office of Management and Budget

Two Specific Examples of Congress Failing to Exercise Effective Oversight of the Federal Bureaucracy

• Partisan Politics

• Overload of Congressional Work

Partisan Politics The political party affiliation gets in the way of congressional oversight in the United States government Example : A Democratic Congressman will be hesitant to bring fault to the president, if the president is also a Democrat

• MSNBC video Obama GOP needs to put partisan politics aside.mht

Overload of Congressional Work Members of Congress are overloaded with work and do not have time and resources to effective oversee the federal bureaucracy Example : Congressman is too concentrated about needs of constituents instead of congressional oversight

The End

Approved by the “Iced Tea Party”