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Oversight is an implied rather than an enumerated power under the U.S. Constitution. [2] The government's charter does not explicitly grant Congress the authority to conduct inquiries or investigations of the executive, to have access to records or materials held by the executive, or to issue subpoenas for documents or testimony from the executive.
Through congressional acts, the legislative branch has the power to curb bureaucratic drift. [17] [18] Such regulation can take the form of statutory control or congressional oversight. [18] [19] Through statutory control, Congress aims to limit bureaucratic drift before it occurs by exerting influence over the organization of a bureaucracy.
United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs (115th Congress) Dissolved by Chairman Elijah Cummings during the 116th Congress; United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets (111th Congress-113th Congress) Dissolved the end of the 114th United States Congress.
Obstructing the work of Congress is a crime under federal law, and is known as contempt of Congress. Each house of Congress has the power to cite individuals for contempt, but may not impose any punishment. Instead, after a house issues a contempt citation, the judicial system pursues the matter like a normal criminal case.
A significant part of a committee's hearings workload is dedicated to oversight. For example, on a single day, May 8, 1996, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held an oversight hearing to look into a recent increase in gasoline prices; the Committee on Governmental Affairs held an oversight hearing on the Internal Revenue ...
However, Congressional oversight into intelligence issues is a complex task, requiring a sophisticated understanding of the issues. [2] The floor debate for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 provided a clear example of the difficulties Congress faces when trying to modify intelligence legislation. Members, for reasons of classification or ...
Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for consideration by their respective chambers. [1] They also have oversight responsibility to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions, and in some cases in areas that cut across committee jurisdictions.
As an executive branch department, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security required congressional counterparts to facilitate legislative action and oversight. The committee was made permanent when it was elevated to standing status by a vote of the House of Representatives on January 4, 2005, on the opening day of the 109th Congress ...