AP U.S. Government and Politics Flashcards: Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
A new administration's president appoints agency heads who share their political views. How does this action help the president control the bureaucracy?
This uses presidential authority and influence to ensure that executive agencies carry out their responsibilities in concert with the administration's ideology and goals.
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A new administration's president appoints agency heads who share their political views. How does this action help the president control the bureaucracy?
This uses presidential authority and influence to ensure that executive agencies carry out their responsibilities in concert with the administration's ideology and goals.
How does congressional oversight serve as a check on presidential power?
By overseeing the bureaucracy, which is part of the executive branch, Congress can curtail the use of presidential power and check executive authorization.
Define the "power of the purse."
This is the ability of Congress to check the bureaucracy by appropriating or withholding funds for agencies and their programs.
If Congress holds a committee hearing to question the Secretary of Defense about military spending, what power is it exercising?
This is an example of congressional oversight, specifically using investigation and committee hearings to supervise a bureaucratic department.
What is compliance monitoring?
Compliance monitoring is the process of ensuring that bureaucratic agencies are using funds properly and following established regulations.
How do presidential ideology and influence impact the executive branch?
They directly affect how executive branch agencies carry out the goals of the administration, shaping policy implementation to match the president's agenda.
What are the three components of congressional oversight mentioned in the text?
The three components are: i) review, monitoring, and supervision; ii) investigation and committee hearings; and iii) the power of the purse.
How does the president ensure the bureaucracy aligns with administration goals?
The president uses their ideology, authority, and influence to affect how executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities.
Besides the power of the purse, what are two other methods Congress uses for oversight?
Congress conducts reviews, monitoring, and supervision of bureaucratic agencies, as well as investigations and committee hearings into their activities.
What challenge can compliance monitoring present?
While necessary for accountability, compliance monitoring can pose a challenge to the efficient implementation of policy.
What is the primary goal of congressional oversight of the bureaucracy?
The primary goal is to ensure that legislation is implemented as intended by Congress and to serve as a check on the executive branch.