U.S. Congress and Presidency: Key Powers and Checks in Federal Policy

Bicameralism

Requires a bill to pass both chambers, slowing policymaking and increasing deliberation.

House of Representatives

Represents the population; revenue bills start here because taxation should reflect the public's interests.

Senate

Longer terms and equal representation create stability, making it suitable for treaty ratification and confirmations.

Power of the Purse

Congress limits the executive by controlling funding for agencies and programs.

Impeachment Power

The House charges and the Senate convicts, allowing Congress to hold the executive accountable.

Commander-in-Chief

Military authority lets presidents respond quickly to crises, expanding their influence in foreign policy.

Executive Orders

Allow presidents to direct agencies and shape policy when Congress is gridlocked.

Veto Power

Lets the president reject legislation, forcing Congress to negotiate or revise bills.

Appointment Power

Allows presidents to shape the bureaucracy by choosing agency heads who control policy implementation.

Veto Override

Congress limits presidential power by overturning vetoes with a two-thirds vote.

Senate Treaty Ratification

Prevents the president from unilaterally making binding foreign policy agreements.

Congressional Oversight

Hearings and investigations allow Congress to monitor and pressure executive agencies.

Cabinet Departments

Enforce laws in specific policy areas, giving them discretion that affects policy outcomes.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Create and enforce rules, giving them quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers.

Bureaucratic Discretion

Agencies interpret vague laws, allowing them to decide how policies are enforced.

Oversight Hearings

Congress questions agency officials to ensure proper implementation of laws.

Budget Control

Congress influences agency behavior by increasing, cutting, or freezing funding.

Senate Confirmation

Senators approve or block agency heads, shaping how policies will be carried out.

Legislative Revision

Congress rewrites laws to narrow or expand agency authority, limiting bureaucratic discretion.