Final answer:
Congress may spend U.S. taxpayers' money with oversight and restrictions, and it has the power to appropriate federal funds for various programs, including the military, domestic policies, and foreign aid. The power of the purse is a vital check on presidential authority. Congress also oversees mandatory and discretionary spending, and foreign aid only represents about 1% of the federal budget.
Step-by-step explanation:
If it chooses, Congress may spend U.S. taxpayers' money with oversight and restrictions. None of the options a) Without any oversight or restrictions, b) Only on the military, c) Only on domestic programs, or d) Only on foreign aid, are completely correct. Congress has the power to appropriate federal funds, a power known as the power of the purse, which encompasses discretionary spending on various programs including the military, domestic policies, and foreign aid. Section 9 Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress this power, providing a critical check on presidential authority.
Congressional spending is subject to debate and must balance various interests. Defense spending is spread across many congressional districts, in part, to secure support from those districts' legislators. However, Congress also appropriates funds for mandatory spending, such as entitlement programs, and discretionary spending in areas like education, health, and infrastructure. Additionally, the federal budget includes spending on interest for the national debt.
While foreign aid is often believed to be a significant portion of the budget, it accounts for only about 1% of the federal expenditures. Consequently, Congress does have oversight over how taxpayer's money is spent, and it must authorize the budget through an appropriations bill before the president can spend public money.