Retrospective Congressional Oversight and the Dynamics of Legislative Influence over the Bureaucracy. Issue 4 (11th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: MacDonald, Jason A.; McGrath, Robert J.
• Is Part Of: Legislative studies quarterly. Volume 41:Issue 4(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 899
• Page End: 934
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11
• Subjects: Legislative bodies -- Periodicals; Parlement; Procédure législative; Système parlementaire; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 328
• DOI: 10.1111/lsq.12138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-9805

Abstract

Abstract : Research stresses that congressional committees increase their oversight of the bureaucracy during divided government. We extend this research by developing an explanation, rooted in a more dynamic view of policymaking, for why Congress would sometimes conduct vigorous oversight under unified control as well. In short, committees seem to engage in what we call "retrospective oversight" and take advantage of newly friendly executive administration to refocus existing policy made under a past opposition president. We assess our perspective using two separate sources of data on oversight hearings spanning more than 60 years and find support for our claims regarding retrospective oversight.