Final answer:
Congress has been providing fewer guidelines to executive agencies due to the increased complexity of government tasks and the efficiency of the executive branch in administering government functions. This trend is furthered by Congress's legislative deference resulting from polarization, leading to an increase in the power and autonomy of the President and the executive branch.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency of Congress in recent years to give executive agencies fewer clear guidelines for implementing laws is primarily the result of the greater scope and complexity of the tasks that the American government has undertaken. As the country has grown and the range of its regulatory power has increased, the executive branch has been viewed as more efficient in administering the government due to its hierarchical structure with the President at the top.
This perception has encouraged Congress to delegate more authority to the executive branch to handle intricate processes, such as trade agreements and other regulatory functions. Moreover, modern presidents have leveraged this delegated power through increased use of executive orders and actions that bypass Congress, particularly when polarization within the legislative body makes passing legislation difficult.
In the realm of domestic policy, Congress exercises oversight over federal bureaucracy by controlling funding and approving presidential appointments. However, the trend has been towards an expanded interpretation of the President's powers as described in Article II of the Constitution, which has seen an increase in the breadth and assertiveness of executive action. This growth has further been fueled by the polarization in Congress, which has at times led to legislative deference, where Congress has effectively allowed the executive to take the lead on certain issues.
The result is a complex interplay between legislative intent, executive interpretation, and bureaucratic implementation that can lead to varying degrees of specificity in the guidelines provided to executive agencies. The Over the course of the twentieth century, presidents have expanded and elaborated upon these powers, consolidating more authority within the executive branch, as Congress at times opts to entrust the executive with greater regulatory responsibilities.