Oversight of the Executive Branch - Answers
1. In what way does the doctrine of Separation of powers influence oversight in the U.S.A? How
does this differ from the UK model? -
a. The difference between Parliament and Congress in their oversight of the executive
branch are largely a consequence of the fat that the UK legislature and the executive
are intertwined while in the USA they are entirely separate.
2. Methods of oversight of the executive branch in the US Congress + UK Parliament:
a. Methods in Congress may be less numerous but are more effective than those in the UK
Parliament.
US Congress UK Parliament
Standing committees. Question Time.
Select committees. Correspondence with ministers.
Confirmation of appointments (Senate). Tabling of EDM's.
Ratification of treaties (Senate). Policy debates.
Impeachment, trial + removal from office. The ombudsman.
Select committees.
Votes of no confidence.
3. What evidence does the text cite as pointing to the fact that Congress has oversight over far
more matters than Parliament?
a. Congress has control over the budget than Parliament. In 1995-96, a Republican-
controlled Congress was able to block passage of President Clinton's budget.
b. In 1990, a Democrat controlled Congress forced President George Bush to break his
campaign pledge and raise taxes as part of a deal to pass that year's budget.
c. Senate - formal power to ratify treaties negotiated by the president, but Parliament has
no comparable power.
d. Confirmation of appointments.
4. Why does the author write that Congress's power to check the executive's war making powers
are 'illusory'?
a. Argued Congress- greater power to check Executive war-making powers.
b. US Constitution grants Congress sole power to declare war, whereas Parliament has no
similar power.
c. In effect this power has proved illusory: Congress has not declared war since 1941, yet
there have been a significant number of wars in which US forces have been directly
involved e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan + Vietnam.
d. It could be argued Parliament played a more significant oversight role during the war in
Iraq in 2003 than did Congress.
e. Commentators are worried about Obama's increasing use of drone attacks.
i. Killed more than 2400 people, over 390 drone attacks first 5 years of office.
5. Explain the key difference between the US Senate + UK Parliament in relation to patronage:
a. US Senate - power to 'advise and consent' to numerous executive branch appointments
+ all federal judicial appointments made by the president + has not been slow to use
this power.
b. UK Parliament has no such power over the PM, who has almost unchecked power of
patronage - only informal checks - has to include certain people.
1. In what way does the doctrine of Separation of powers influence oversight in the U.S.A? How
does this differ from the UK model? -
a. The difference between Parliament and Congress in their oversight of the executive
branch are largely a consequence of the fat that the UK legislature and the executive
are intertwined while in the USA they are entirely separate.
2. Methods of oversight of the executive branch in the US Congress + UK Parliament:
a. Methods in Congress may be less numerous but are more effective than those in the UK
Parliament.
US Congress UK Parliament
Standing committees. Question Time.
Select committees. Correspondence with ministers.
Confirmation of appointments (Senate). Tabling of EDM's.
Ratification of treaties (Senate). Policy debates.
Impeachment, trial + removal from office. The ombudsman.
Select committees.
Votes of no confidence.
3. What evidence does the text cite as pointing to the fact that Congress has oversight over far
more matters than Parliament?
a. Congress has control over the budget than Parliament. In 1995-96, a Republican-
controlled Congress was able to block passage of President Clinton's budget.
b. In 1990, a Democrat controlled Congress forced President George Bush to break his
campaign pledge and raise taxes as part of a deal to pass that year's budget.
c. Senate - formal power to ratify treaties negotiated by the president, but Parliament has
no comparable power.
d. Confirmation of appointments.
4. Why does the author write that Congress's power to check the executive's war making powers
are 'illusory'?
a. Argued Congress- greater power to check Executive war-making powers.
b. US Constitution grants Congress sole power to declare war, whereas Parliament has no
similar power.
c. In effect this power has proved illusory: Congress has not declared war since 1941, yet
there have been a significant number of wars in which US forces have been directly
involved e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan + Vietnam.
d. It could be argued Parliament played a more significant oversight role during the war in
Iraq in 2003 than did Congress.
e. Commentators are worried about Obama's increasing use of drone attacks.
i. Killed more than 2400 people, over 390 drone attacks first 5 years of office.
5. Explain the key difference between the US Senate + UK Parliament in relation to patronage:
a. US Senate - power to 'advise and consent' to numerous executive branch appointments
+ all federal judicial appointments made by the president + has not been slow to use
this power.
b. UK Parliament has no such power over the PM, who has almost unchecked power of
patronage - only informal checks - has to include certain people.
