Congressional Investigations and Oversight

Poll

Which of the following scenarios warrant a congressional investigation at the highest level?

• Constituents in your home district are outraged by allegations that the National Security Agency (NSA) has acquired data on cell phone usage and Internet searches by millions of Americans without search warrants. Congress and special national security courts may have given secret permission for the NSA to do so.

• A reporter names a covert CIA agent in a news story. It is alleged that the vice president gave the reporter the agent’s identity after her husband, a former ambassador, publicly and vehemently criticized the foreign policies of the president. You are concerned that the reporter’s revelation jeopardized other CIA agents with whom she worked. You are also concerned that more media attention may take an even bigger toll on national security.

• • Your constituents complain about excessive government spending all the time. Allegations have surfaced that several government agencies have spent millions of dollars on national conferences in extravagant places and their staff has accepted lavish gifts in violation of ethics rules. Your political party controls the executive branch, including these agencies.

Multiple Choice

What allows Congress to review executive branch activities?

• expressed power

• impoundment

• line-item veto

• Legislative oversight