5.7 Quiz

1. Unlike in criminal court, witnesses in congressional hearings can be forced to testify against themselves.​

• True
• False

2. Congress has the right to oversee the work of both the executive and the judicial branches.​

• True
• False

3. One way to decide if a news source is biased is to compare reports from several sources.​

• True
• False

4. Some congressional investigations have led to reforms in government agencies.​

• True
• False

5. When a congressional committee wants a witness to appear, it issues a legislative veto.​

• True
• False

6. How is legislative oversight typically different from congressional investigation?​

• Investigation involves the executive branch whereas oversight involves the legislature.
• Investigation involves the judicial branch whereas oversight involves the legislature.
• Investigation is an expressed power but oversight is an implied power.
• Oversight typically involves reviewing activities over a longer period of time.

7. Which of the following investigations resulted in Congress finding out that one of its members had been bribed?​

• the investigation into the activities of lobbyist Jack Abramoff
• the investigation into the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• the investigation into the economic meltdown of 2008
• the investigation into the IRS actions in unfairly scrutinizing certain groups

8. After a two-year investigation into investment banks’ role in the economic meltdown of 2008, Congress​

• decided there was little need for banking reform.
• determined banks had properly informed customers about their investment risks.
• passed a major banking reform bill.
• was unable to subpoena the needed witnesses.

9. Legislative oversight is an example of checks and balances because ​

• Congress can determine whether a power is explicit or implied.
• Congress can see if the executive branch is carrying out a law as it intended.
• oversight lets Congress judge whether or not a particular law is unconstitutional.
• oversight requires Congress to relinquish its power of judicial review.

10. The power of the purse is important in oversight because it allows Congress to​

• appoint an independent counsel.
• hold hearings and question witnesses.
• issue a subpoena.
• review, and possibly modify, agency budgets.