1. 2.4 Congress and the Executive

2. Oversight
Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department or office

3. Methods of Congressional oversight
Setting guidelines for new agencies
Holding hearings and conducting investigations
Using budget control (power of the purse)
Reorganizing an agency
Evaluating an agency’s programs

4. Special Senate Oversight
Confirming cabinet heads and presidential appointments to all federal courts

5. Foreign Policy and the division of power
Congress has the power to declare war
Senate has the power to ratify treaties
President is commander in chief, and has the power to wage war
The president has the power to negotiate treaties

6. The War Powers Resolution
Passed 1973 in response to presidential actions in the Vietnam War
Troops had been committed in the are for approx. 20 years with no declaration from Congress, sought or given.
War Powers resolution was an attempt to control presidential decisions in regards to committing military forces

7. The War Powers Resolution
President must notify congress with in 48 hours of deploying troops over seas
Must bring troops home within 60 days, may be extended to 90 days, unless congress extends the time with legislation or a declaration of war
Has not been effective why?

8. Fact Question
Which of the following Committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation?
(A) Ways and Means
(B) Appropriations
(C) Judiciary
(D) Rules
(E) Government Operations

9. Applied Question
The Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money. This is an example of
(A) Enumerated powers.
(B) Implied powers.
(C) Reserved powers.
(D) Concurrent powers.
(E) Exclusive powers.

10. Potential for conflict
Cabinet Members
Ambassadors
White House Staff

11. Longest Lasting Influence
Conflict with Congressional Agenda
Policy initiatives
Executive orders

12. Comparison Question
A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that
(A) filibusters are available only in the House
(B) revenue bills must originate in the Senate
(C) judicial nominations originate in a House committee
(D) each state has equal representation in the House but not in the Senate
(D) There is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House

13. Essay Question
Congress is organized in such a way that its leaders have important roles.
A. Describe how the speaker of the House is selected and describe that position’s power.
B. Discuss how the president of the senate is selected and describe that position’s power.
C. Explain how the powers of the two positions reflect the differences in the two houses of Congress.

14. *****Divided Government*****
What is divided government????
What might the result of a divided government be for the country??
Partisan votes against presidential initiatives
Congressional refusal to confirm appointments of lame duck presidents