Congressional Oversight in American Politics

1286 Words3 Pages

Stemming from a loose interpretation of the Constitution – and specifically the necessary and proper clause -- congressional oversight is one of many enumerated powers bestowed upon Congress per Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. As the legislative body, Congress is charged with overseeing the inner workings of the Executive Branch and its federal agencies as a part of a system of checks and balances. However, as previously mentioned, this power is one of the implied powers of Congress, thus making it very difficult for many to delineate rightful oversight from reckless meandering. In the Constitution, for example, there is no singular mention of a definitive power such as “congressional oversight.” Consequently, there is no clear set of goals or practices through which Congress can oversee the executive branch. This is where things can become slightly tricky, however. As ordered by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, Congress was given the power to “exercise continuous watchfulness” over the executive branch and its subsidiary agencies and programs. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 went one step further in granting oversight powers to Congress by authorizing House and Senate committees to “review and study, on a continuing basis the application, administration and execution” of laws. In order to fulfill these obligations, Congress uses a number of techniques to check the executive branch. One technique is the usage of committee hearings and investigations. In the mid to late 1960s, for example, Senator J. William Fulbright organized Senate hearings which mobilized opposition to the Vietnam War. Consequently, the Gulf Tonkin Resolution, which gave the president the power to authorize usage of “conv... ... middle of paper ... ...nts’ opinions of them and constituents’ perception of their work to advance their own beliefs. Consequently the act of not stopping seemingly corrupt activities is sometimes viewed by constituents just as negatively as partaking directly in those activities. So, while the purpose of congressional oversight today is similar to what it was decades ago, it is clear that oversight no longer means what it once die. In the end, I propose this is true today because of one simple concept: times are changing and so are politics. Works Cited Davidson, Roger H., Walter J. Oleszek, and Frances E. Lee. Congress and Its Members. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2009. Print. Taylor Jr., Stuart. "CHENEY'S WIN OVER THE GAO THREATENS CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT." National Journal 34.50 (2002): 3638. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Nov. 2010. US Const., art. 2, sec. 3. Print.

Open Document