2.14 Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable

Congress checks the bureaucracy

Congress uses several tools to hold federal agencies accountable: it can hold committee hearings, use its oversight power to investigate agency actions, control agency budgets through appropriations, and require Senate confirmation of top agency officials. Congress can also rewrite legislation to clarify or limit agency authority when it oversteps.

The president and courts weigh in too

The president appoints and can remove agency heads, issues executive orders, and can reorganize agencies. Federal courts review agency actions to ensure they follow proper procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and don't exceed statutory authority — a form of judicial review applied to bureaucratic rule-making.

Iron triangles and issue networks

Accountability is complicated by iron triangles — stable, mutually beneficial relationships among a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group. Broader, less stable coalitions of experts, lobbyists, and officials are called issue networks. Both can make agencies more responsive to narrow interests than to elected officials or the public.

Key terms

Congressional oversight

Congress's power to monitor and review how agencies implement laws, often through hearings and investigations.

Iron triangle

A stable, mutually beneficial relationship among a bureaucratic agency, congressional committee, and interest group.

Issue network

A broader, less stable coalition of experts, lobbyists, and officials influencing policy in a given area.

Administrative Procedure Act (APA)

Federal law requiring agencies to follow specific procedures (like notice and comment) when making rules.

Presidential checks on bureaucracy

The president can appoint/remove agency heads, issue executive orders, and reorganize agencies to influence bureaucratic behavior.

Try an AP-style question

Congressional oversight of agencies includes…

1. writing court opinions
2. appointing agency heads
3. hearings and budget control
4. issuing executive orders