Changes

There is no express provision in the Constitution authorizing the Congress to oversee the Executive Branch.  Instead, Congress' oversight power derives from its “implied” powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules.  

There is no express provision in the Constitution authorizing the Congress to oversee the Executive Branch.  Instead, Congress' oversight power derives from its “implied” powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules.  

The philosophical underpinning for oversight is the Constitution’s system of checks and balances among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. [[James Madison]], described the system in [[Federalist No. 51]] as establishing “subordinate distributions of power, where the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner that each may be a check on the other”.

The philosophical underpinning for oversight is the Constitution’s system of checks and balances among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. [[James Madison]], described the system in [[Federalist No. 51]] as establishing “subordinate distributions of power, where the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner that each may be a check on the other”.

*For the past decade, Congress authorizes spending at the last minute under threat of a government shutdown, undercutting the normal oversight by appropriation committees.  Continuing resolutions keep spending at prior level without Congress considering the cutting of ineffective programs.

*For the past decade, Congress authorizes spending at the last minute under threat of a government shutdown, undercutting the normal oversight by appropriation committees.  Continuing resolutions keep spending at prior level without Congress considering the cutting of ineffective programs.

*The President and his staff can assert "Executive Privilege" and refuse to answer the questions of Congress.

*The President and his staff can assert "Executive Privilege" and refuse to answer the questions of Congress.

*When [[Dick Cheney]] was Vice President, he asserted that his office was a part of the legislative branch and not the executive branch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,198829,00.html|title=Cheney, Enron, and the Constitution |date=February 2, 2002|accessdate=June 17, 2017|work=Time}}</ref>

*When [[Dick Cheney]] was Vice President, he asserted that his office was a part of the legislative branch and not the executive branch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,198829,00.html|title=Cheney, Enron, and the Constitution |date=February 2, 2002|accessdate=June 17, 2017|work=Time}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jun/22/nation/na-cheney22|title=Cheney's executive decision|date=June 22, 2007|first=Josh|last=Meyer|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=June 17, 2017}}</ref>

*When Congress and the White House are controlled by the same political party, there is little incentive to investigate the executive branch and to hold oversight hearings.

*When Congress and the White House are controlled by the same political party, there is little incentive to investigate the executive branch and to hold oversight hearings.

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Government]]

[[Category:Government]]