Asked by Jamila Mohammed on May 25, 2024
Verified
Describe how Congress exercises its checks and balances over the executive branch.Which chamber of Congress has more authority over the executive branch? Provide examples.How might partisanship help to diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency? Explain.
Checks and Balances
A fundamental principle of government that establishes a division of power among different branches to ensure that no single branch becomes too powerful, enabling mutual regulation.
Congressional Power
The authorities and duties given to the United States Congress, including making laws, declaring war, and regulating interstate and foreign commerce.
Partisanship
Strong loyalty to a particular political party or cause, often leading to unwillingness to consider alternative viewpoints.
- Acquire knowledge about the role of congressional oversight and its critical function in scrutinizing how the executive branch applies laws.
- Describe the processes and structures involved in the legislative process, from bill proposal to law.
Verified Answer
JG
jassie GrewalMay 29, 2024
Final Answer :
There are three components to this question.
a.Checks and balances over the executive branch: Congress has the power of oversight to check the executive.Oversight refers to the effort to supervise how the executive branch carries out legislation.Oversight is carried out by committees or subcommittees of the Senate or the House,which conduct hearings and investigations to analyze and evaluate bureaucratic agencies and the effectiveness of their programs.The Constitution also grants Congress the power of impeachment over the president,vice president,and other executive officials.Impeachment means to charge a government official (president or otherwise)with "Treason,Bribery,or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" and bring him or her before Congress to determine guilt.
b.Which house has more authority: The Constitution gives the Senate more authority over the executive.The president has the power to make treaties and to appoint top executive officers,ambassadors,and federal judges,but only "with the Advice and Consent of the Senate" (Article II,Section 2).For treaties,two-thirds of those present must concur; for appointments,a simple majority is required.The House is not given any authority over treaties or appointments.
c.Partisanship: Oversight hearings can serve as political tools.The Select Committee on Benghazi,formed in 2014 to investigate the deaths of four American diplomats in Libya,became enmeshed in partisan contention after Hillary Clinton,who had served as secretary of state during the attacks,announced that she would run for president.
a.Checks and balances over the executive branch: Congress has the power of oversight to check the executive.Oversight refers to the effort to supervise how the executive branch carries out legislation.Oversight is carried out by committees or subcommittees of the Senate or the House,which conduct hearings and investigations to analyze and evaluate bureaucratic agencies and the effectiveness of their programs.The Constitution also grants Congress the power of impeachment over the president,vice president,and other executive officials.Impeachment means to charge a government official (president or otherwise)with "Treason,Bribery,or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" and bring him or her before Congress to determine guilt.
b.Which house has more authority: The Constitution gives the Senate more authority over the executive.The president has the power to make treaties and to appoint top executive officers,ambassadors,and federal judges,but only "with the Advice and Consent of the Senate" (Article II,Section 2).For treaties,two-thirds of those present must concur; for appointments,a simple majority is required.The House is not given any authority over treaties or appointments.
c.Partisanship: Oversight hearings can serve as political tools.The Select Committee on Benghazi,formed in 2014 to investigate the deaths of four American diplomats in Libya,became enmeshed in partisan contention after Hillary Clinton,who had served as secretary of state during the attacks,announced that she would run for president.
Learning Objectives
- Acquire knowledge about the role of congressional oversight and its critical function in scrutinizing how the executive branch applies laws.
- Describe the processes and structures involved in the legislative process, from bill proposal to law.