Investigate/Oversight

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of Congressional investigations?

• To conduct foreign diplomacy

• To lead investigations that may result in new legislation

• To oversee presidential elections

• To provide financial aid to citizens

Drag and Drop

How long can Congressional committee investigations last?

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A few hours to a couple of days

A few days to several weeks

A few days or can go on for months

They are always completed within one day

Multiple Choice

During Congressional investigations, what role do witnesses play?

• They provide entertainment for the committee members

• They are there to observe the proceedings only

• They may be called to testify, sometimes under oath, at committee hearings

• They assist in drafting new legislation

Multiple Choice

What is a common characteristic of Congressional investigations?

• They always lead to the impeachment of a public official

• They are conducted in secret with no media coverage

• Most get little notice, but some have become media events

• They are only conducted for financial issues

Multiple Choice

What is a subpoena?

• A request for a voluntary appearance in court

• A legal order that a person must appear or produce requested documents

• A formal invitation to participate in a court proceeding

• A notice of dismissal from a legal case

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What can result from refusing to testify under oath in a Congressional committee?

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A reward for maintaining privacy

A fine for wasting the committee's time

Contempt of court

Automatic imprisonment without trial

Dropdown

Can a person be criminally prosecuted for committing perjury?

Select answer

Multiple Choice

What does the 5th Amendment guarantee for witnesses?

• Witnesses can be compelled to give evidence against themselves

• Witnesses cannot be compelled to give evidence against themselves

• Witnesses must testify without any legal protection

• Witnesses have no constitutional rights in court

Multiple Choice

What is immunity in the context of congressional witnesses?

• A legal obligation to testify about illegal acts

• A reward for providing false testimony

• Freedom from prosecution for witnesses whose testimony ties them to illegal acts

• The ability to avoid testifying in front of Congress

Multiple Choice

What is one of the roles of Congress in relation to the executive branch?

• To enforce the policies of the executive branch

• To ignore the activities of the executive branch

• To review the policies, programs, and activities of the executive branch on an ongoing basis

• To create policies for the executive branch to implement

Multiple Choice

What is the power of Legislative Oversight?

• The power of the Judicial Branch to review the policies of the Legislative Branch

• The power of the Legislative Branch to review the policies, programs, and activities of the Executive Branch

• The power of the Executive Branch to oversee the Legislative Branch

• The power of the citizens to directly review the activities of the Executive Branch

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What does Legislative Oversight focus on?

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Only on the activities of the President

Only on the financial aspects of the Executive Branch

A wide array of programs and officials

The judicial decisions made by the Supreme Court

Dropdown

What is one of the reasons why Congress uses its oversight powers inconsistently?

Select answer

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)?

• To draft new legislation for economic reforms

• To provide military oversight and intelligence

• To examine the finances of public agencies and see how money is being spent

• To enforce the laws made by Congress

Multiple Choice

What is a legislative veto?

• A presidential action to veto congressional legislation

• A provision that Congress wrote into some laws to review and cancel actions of executive agencies

• A judicial decision to overturn a law passed by Congress

• A state's ability to veto federal legislation

Multiple Choice

What did the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 ask Congress to do in relation to executive agencies?

• To reduce the number of executive agencies

• To exercise "continuous watchfulness" over executive agencies

• To increase funding for executive agencies

• To eliminate executive agencies

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How did the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 change the number of House committees?

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Increased from 19 to 48

Reduced from 48 to 19

Reduced from 35 to 15

No change was made to the number of House committees

Multiple Choice

What was one of the changes made by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to committee hearings?

• Made all committee hearings private

• Made all committee hearings public, except those dealing with national security

• Made only hearings on executive agencies public

• Prohibited televised broadcasts of committee hearings