R Overseeing Federal
Bureaucracy

Thursday,
March 12, 2009

7:38 PM

Congress must also oversee Executive Branch

More important as it
delegates more to executive branch

Not very well
equipped for this

General Accounting
Office (GAO) mainly

Can also hold
hearings

But
also focus on minor, unimportant things

And
neglect broader policy questions

And
scheduling conflicts may mean member not focused on hearings

Although
very embarrassing under the TV cameras

Agencies
spend a lot of time preparing for it

But
often are for when oversight has failed

To
make it seem like they are doing something

But
they often fail to prevent the issues and weaken oversight

Often
put campaign contributions and jobs over oversight

Also
oversight of financials is fragmented to many committees

Can also request
reports

Can also talk
informally

But few incentives
to do any real oversight

Primary means of
oversight is controlling the budget

Moved
to short term authorizations in the 1970s

Members
use this power to get things for their constituents

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R Overseeing Federal
Bureaucracy

Thursday,
March 12, 2009

7:38 PM

Congress must also oversee Executive Branch

More important as it
delegates more to executive branch

Not very well
equipped for this

General Accounting
Office (GAO) mainly

Can also hold
hearings

But
also focus on minor, unimportant things

And
neglect broader policy questions

And
scheduling conflicts may mean member not focused on hearings

Although
very embarrassing under the TV cameras

Agencies
spend a lot of time preparing for it

But
often are for when oversight has failed

To
make it seem like they are doing something

But
they often fail to prevent the issues and weaken oversight

Often
put campaign contributions and jobs over oversight

Also
oversight of financials is fragmented to many committees

Can also request
reports

Can also talk
informally

But few incentives
to do any real oversight

Primary means of
oversight is controlling the budget

Moved
to short term authorizations in the 1970s

Members
use this power to get things for their constituents