Oversight

Question 1

1) Congress is effective at oversight function
For

Answer 1

Power of oversight- scrutiny and expose potus/ exec

Can be done- committees, where they lead congressional oversight, using their specialized expertise, investigative powers and subpoena authority to question officials and investigate exec branch.

E.g senate intelligence committees 3 yr investigation into Russian election interference exemplifies detailed oversight, interviewing 200+ witnesses and predicting a 1300 pg report.

TIS- detailed scrutiny of the presidency which acts as a crucial check on presidential power and ensure transparency.

Although, its important to mention that there were no criminal conspiracy- highlight a flaw as its findings r politically driven, not judicial

Despite that= congresss oversight is especially effective under divided gov as it leads to better scrutiny of potus including their budgets, nominations and treaties e.g. a divided congress provided effective scrutiny of Nixon’s watergate scandal which led to his impeachment

TIS as they hv a party political interests in damaging the presidency of the opposing party- a motive sharpened by polarization and the security of the incumbency

Question 2

1) Congress is effective at oversight function
Against

Answer 2

Ineffective due to influence of party politics
Divided gov is ineffective as congress is driven by party political point scoring e.g. Biden faced impeachment where the key charge that his son profited from foreign business ventures had no proof.

TIS as it results in highly partisan, political attacks aimed at arming the president at next election

United gov- limited oversight
E.g. trumps 2nd term where he broke the law by firing inspector generals from 17 gov agencies w a rep dominated congress didn’t revers exec order.

TIS- congress fails to assert its own oversight power in united congress due to reluctance to damage potus.

Ultimately, congress oversight function is ineffective cuz in a polarized climate, it devolves into partisan point scoring rather than genuine accountability.

Question 3

2) domestic policy
Is effective

Answer 3

Congress has control over leg proces and power of the purse to limit potus agenda.

Article 1 section 8= all $ spent by potus and exec has to be approved by congress.
E.g. trumps US-Mexico wall - 538 miles only

TIS as potus faces staunch resistance to policy proposals which can expose them o vulnerabilities like gov shutdowns e.g. 2025 and it can lead to potus to adopt informal powers e.g. power of persuasion

Moreover, potus cannot directly influence legibly members of congress which stifles potus’ power to dominate leg exacerbated during lame duck periods e.g. 2010 rep gained control of the house- period of leg gridlock and Obama failing to pass DREAM Act

Question 4

2) domestic policy
Not effective

Answer 4

Bypass congress thru exec orders

Trump- immigration, bidenomics

TIS as potus can influence existing leg thru exec orders directing fed agencies on how to execute policies without congressional approval which lead to substantial policy changes

Easy for potus- don’t face same level of internal opposition from cabinet unlike uk.

Overall, potus is held o account by congress as they r structurally imperiled as they often rely on power of persuasion to achieve long term policy changes

Question 5

3) FP
For effective

Answer 5

Checks presidents
Article 1 section 8- congress decides whether US will engage in formal warfare.

Congress declared war against Japan in 1941 following attack on Pearl Harbor
TIS checks on commander in chief , ensuring that decisions to go to war is a collective, representative one.

Congress can hold potus to account in FP by asserting themselves in FP issues
E.g. 2015, congress invited Nethanyahu to address nuclear deal.

TIS congress can use its role to undermine potus’ FP and hold them to account

Question 6

3) FP
Not effective

Answer 6

POTUS often stretches constitutional limits

Likewise, successful in FP as they r able to stretch constitutional limits due to them being ‘commander-in-chief’
E.g. trump authorised airstrikes against the houthis on march 2025 and bush’s war on terror which led to Iraq war that destabilized an entire region.

TIS as these unilateral actions were pursued by potus without prior congressional approval which goes against the war powers resolution that required potus to notify congress 48hrs before deploying armed forces.

This can be justified by potus due to the evolving nature of global threats which requires pots to exploit their commander-in-chief role in order to solidify their top-dog position as the global policemen in foreign affairs coupled w the vagueness of the constitution.

This is indeed convincing because potus has been able to bypass the constitution to fulfil their foreign policy aims at the expense of congress.