Congressional Oversight Essays

Congressional Oversight Essays Congressional Oversight Essay Congressional Oversight Essay 1. Congressional oversight  refers to oversight by the  United States Congress  of the  Executive Branch, including the numerous  U. S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation. Congress exercises this power largely through its  congressional committee  system. However, oversight, which dates to the earliest days of the Republic, also occurs in a wide variety of congressional activities and contexts. These include authorization, appropriations, investigative, and  legislative hearings  by standing committees; specialized investigations by select committees; and reviews and studies by congressional support agencies and staff. A  filibuster  is a type of  parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal. It is commonly referred to as  talking out a bill,  and characterized as a form of obstruction in a  legislature  or other decision-making body. 2. Advantages of Incumbency Advertising Credit claiming Position taking Weak opponents Difficult to defeat Stability and change Most incumbents get to stay in office 3. 1. PAC’s, Lobbyist, Electioneers. 2. The money is used to fund the campaign and for publicity. 3. 4. The system of checks and balances is an important part of the Constitution. With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch â€Å"checks† the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them.