Question

How does legislative oversight support the separation of powers and checks and balances?

Answer 1

The system of checks and balances is the idea that different branches of the government will make sure that no one branch/individual will gain too much power. This system is used constantly in the United States. The US federal government has three branches including the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. In order to check the power of the executive branch (aka the President), the legislative branch has the power of oversight. This means that Congress is constantly monitoring programs and policies approved by the President to ensure that they are being implemented correctly. This oversight ensures that the executive branch is not manipulating any parts of the federal government or its programs.

Answer 2

Allows for the legislative branch to check on the executive branch.

Legislative oversight allows Congress to follow up on laws after they had been passed in Congress. It also ensures the executive branch is following through with laws and bureaucracy as stated in laws and the Constitution. This oversight makes sure the executive is not extending their power and makes them answer to one of the other branches of government which is the definition of the checks and balances idea.