Congress can oversee the bureaucracy by:

• A. Passing legislation that alters functions, investigating activities, limiting funds
• B. Nominating federal judges
• C. Negotiating treaties
• D. Directly managing day-to-day agency operations

Answer: (A)

Congress oversees the bureaucracy mainly through its powers to legislate, supervise, and fund. By passing laws, Congress can redefine an agency’s functions, authority, or even create or abolish programs, directing what the bureaucracy can do and how it operates. Oversight investigations and hearings let Congress scrutinize agency actions, uncover problems, and compel officials to justify or change policies. Controlling funding gives Congress leverage to punish or reward agencies—imposing budget limits, conditions, or reporting requirements to ensure agencies carry out Congress’s priorities.

Nominating federal judges, negotiating treaties, and directly managing day-to-day agency operations are not typical oversight tools. Judicial appointments are a presidential responsibility with Senate confirmation, treaties are foreign-policy functions, and daily administration is run by the executive branch and agency leaders, not Congress.