Holding the BUREAUCRACY Accountable [AP Gov Review Unit 2 Topics 14-15 (2.14-15)]

Summary

This video explains how the federal bureaucracy is held accountable by the three branches of government, with a focus on Congress and the president. It covers how Congress uses its oversight powers, such as committee hearings and control over agency budgets, to ensure the bureaucracy implements laws as intended. The president checks the bureaucracy through formal powers like appointments and informal tools like executive orders. The video also briefly discusses how the judicial branch can review bureaucratic actions for constitutionality, concluding with a call to viewers to continue learning and subscribe for future content.

Takeaways

• 📜 Congress exercises oversight over the federal bureaucracy mainly through committee hearings and the power of the purse.
• 🗣️ Congressional committees can call agency heads to testify, which allows for transparency and accountability in law implementation.
• 💰 The power of the purse allows Congress to control funding for agencies, impacting their ability to operate effectively.
• 🏛️ The President oversees the bureaucracy by appointing agency heads, ensuring they align with the administration’s goals.
• 🔄 The President can remove certain agency leaders if they are not implementing policies as intended, though there are limits for regulatory commissions.
• 📜 Executive orders are informal powers the President can use to guide bureaucracy in line with policy objectives.
• ⚖️ The judiciary can review bureaucratic actions through judicial review, ensuring regulations comply with the Constitution.
• ⏱️ Bureaucratic slowdown is often due to compliance monitoring, which is a necessary but time-consuming process.
• 👥 Congressional and presidential oversight are checks on the power of the bureaucracy, preventing unchecked rule-making.
• ⚖️ Courts generally rule in favor of bureaucratic agencies unless there is clear constitutional violation in their actions.

Q & A

How does the federal bureaucracy implement laws?

The federal bureaucracy implements laws through their delegated discretionary authority and rule-making procedures.

What is the role of Congress in overseeing the federal bureaucracy?

Congress oversees the federal bureaucracy to ensure that laws are implemented as intended, using committee hearings and the power of the purse to check the bureaucracy.

How can Congress use committee hearings to check the bureaucracy?

Congress can call directors of agencies to testify and give reports on their progress in carrying out the law, which can range from friendly check-ins to intense scrutiny during hearings.

What is the 'power of the purse' and how does it relate to Congress's oversight of the bureaucracy?

The 'power of the purse' refers to Congress's responsibility for funding bureaucratic agencies. They can decrease funding for agencies that aren't executing laws appropriately.

How has the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 affected Congress's power over budgetary decisions?

The Act gave Congress more power over budgetary decisions at the expense of the president's power, allowing them to exert greater control over agency funding.

What are some ways the President can ensure the bureaucracy aligns with their policy agenda?

The President can appoint new heads of agencies sympathetic to their policy agenda, use formal powers like appointment, and informal powers like executive orders.

Can you provide an example of how a President used their formal powers to reorganize the bureaucracy?

In 2017, President Donald Trump fired James Comey, the director of the FBI, because he believed Comey was not handling the Russia investigation in alignment with his agenda.

How can the President use executive orders to influence the bureaucracy?

Presidents can use executive orders to bring the bureaucracy in line with their policy agenda, as seen with President Lyndon B. Johnson's Executive Order 11246, which mandated affirmative action in federal contracts.

What is the biggest cause of bureaucratic slowdown in the implementation of laws?

The biggest cause of bureaucratic slowdown is compliance monitoring, where regulatory agencies must ensure that industries are following imposed rules.

How can the judicial branch check the power of the bureaucracy?

The judicial branch can check the bureaucracy by allowing individuals to appeal to the courts if a rule or regulation is deemed unconstitutional, exercising judicial review.

What is the significance of the Supreme Court's role in checking the bureaucracy?

The Supreme Court's role is significant as it can declare a rule or regulation unconstitutional through judicial review, providing a check on the bureaucracy's power.