Lecture 11-4

Legislative Oversight

Congressional Support Agencies

• GAO

• CBO

• GAO & CBO vs OMB

• CRS

Influencing the Process - The Lobbies

• Lobbyists are most successful in affecting distributive policies

• Lobbyists are less successful in affecting redistributive policies

• Some of the most effective lobbyists are former members of Congress

Influencing the Process - The Lobbies

• The pervasiveness of lobbyists is reflected in the formation of dozens of informal caucuses among the members, each denoting a particular interest

Influencing the Process - The Bureaucracy

• In addition to lobbyists, bureaucratic agencies often develop informal partnerships with member called “iron triangles.”

• congressional oversight is the effort to exercise continuous watchfulness over what bureaucrats do.

The Iron Triangle