Final answer:
The correct answer to the student's question is 'C. Congressional oversight,' which entails Congress's monitoring and supervision of the executive branch and its agencies to ensure they act according to legislative intent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept referred to in the question is Congressional oversight, which is a critical function of the United States Congress that involves the monitoring and supervision of the executive branch, including government agencies, to ensure that they are operating within the scope of congressional intent.
This includes reviewing, monitoring, supervising, and hearing reports from the executive agencies. Congressional oversight is essential in the system of checks and balances, which is a hallmark of the American political system, intended to prevent any one branch of government from gaining too much power.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) plays a key role in this process by providing Congress with audits, evaluations, and investigations into the functioning of the bureaucracy.
The correct answer to the student's question is C. Congressional oversight. This oversight function is a means to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the federal government.
Congress exercises this power through various means, including the ability to control funding, approve or reject presidential appointments, and even impeach officials if necessary. These mechanisms allow Congress to act as a check on the executive branch, ensuring that federal agencies execute laws in alignment with congressional expectations.