US Congress - Topic 2.2.3

Question 1

How does party control effect congressional oversight?

Answer 1

• When government is united, oversight by Congress looks less effective
• The president has historically used veto power less when the government is unified
• If the same party controls both branches of government, Congress should be responsive to the President’s wishes

Question 2

How does policy area effect congressional oversight?

Answer 2

• Congress has more oversight in home affairs compared to foreign affairs. Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal had very little say from Congress while Trump’s wall and Biden’s Build Back Better scheme faced issues

Question 3

How does presidential poll rates effect congressional oversight?

Answer 3

• Congress can exert over more control over when their polling ratings are low.

Question 4

How does partisanship effect congressional oversight?

Answer 4

• Compromise is more difficult to achieve with the rise of partisanship, which can strain the relationship between the legislature and executive. This has caused repetitive gridlock between the branches, with their checks and balances becoming inefficient

Question 5

How does the election cycle effect congressional oversight?

Answer 5

• When there is a midterm election, Congress is more likely to please their constituents rather than the President, especially when the President is unpopular when it can be beneficial for a congressperson to show some distance between them and the President

Question 6

How do national events effect congressional oversight?

Answer 6

• In the case of national events, Congress is willing to act in deference and subside their power to the President in the short term, and will look to the guidance of the President. Such examples are 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005