{ "id": "RL30240", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "RL", "number": "RL30240", "active": true, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov, EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "retrieved": "2023-01-27T04:04:34.372208", "id": "RL30240_40_2022-12-22", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2022-12-22_RL30240_db079e6f2b57914dfdbc6afb3b55697cd6f64e6e.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30240/40", "sha1": "db079e6f2b57914dfdbc6afb3b55697cd6f64e6e" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2022-12-22_RL30240_db079e6f2b57914dfdbc6afb3b55697cd6f64e6e.html" } ], "date": "2022-12-22", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "RL", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=RL30240", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "retrieved": "2023-01-27T04:04:34.370594", "id": "RL30240_36_2021-03-31", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2021-03-31_RL30240_c83b84518bd41618bc67a4e6cec26b68d95918bc.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30240/36", "sha1": "c83b84518bd41618bc67a4e6cec26b68d95918bc" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2021-03-31_RL30240_c83b84518bd41618bc67a4e6cec26b68d95918bc.html" } ], "date": "2021-03-31", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "RL", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=RL30240", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "retrieved": "2023-01-27T04:04:34.369108", "id": "RL30240_34_2021-03-29", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2021-03-29_RL30240_882d5313a494a995a2c6c6dabec94226e23c053c.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30240/34", "sha1": "882d5313a494a995a2c6c6dabec94226e23c053c" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2021-03-29_RL30240_882d5313a494a995a2c6c6dabec94226e23c053c.html" } ], "date": "2021-03-29", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "RL", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=RL30240", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 614225, "date": "2020-01-16", "retrieved": "2020-01-22T13:56:39.997538", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": "Today\u2019s lawmakers and congressional aides, as well as commentators and scholars, recognize that Congress\u2019s lawmaking role does not end when it passes legislation. Oversight is considered fundamental to making sure that laws work and are being administered in an effective, efficient, and economical manner. This function is seen as one of Congress\u2019s principal roles as it grapples with the complexities of American government.\nA fundamental objective of the Congressional Oversight Manual is to assist Members, committees, and legislative staff in carrying out this vital legislative function. It is intended to provide a broad overview of the procedural, legal, and practical issues that are likely to arise as Congress conducts oversight. This includes information on the mechanics of oversight practice based on the House and Senate rules, common investigative techniques, and an inventory of statutes that impact oversight activity. In addition, the Manual discusses important legal principles that have developed around Congress\u2019s oversight practice. It is not intended to address all the legal issues that committees, Members, and staff may encounter when engaged in investigative activities. The Manual is organized both to address specific questions and to support those seeking a general introduction to or broader understanding of oversight practice. \nCRS first developed the Congressional Oversight Manual four decades ago following a three-day December 1978 Workshop on Congressional Oversight and Investigations. The workshop was organized by a group of House and Senate committee aides from both parties and CRS at the request of the bipartisan House leadership. The Manual was produced by CRS with the assistance initially of a number of House committee staffers. In subsequent years, CRS has sponsored and conducted various oversight seminars for House and Senate staff and updated the Manual periodically. \nOver the years, CRS has assisted many Members, committees, party leaders, and staff aides in the performance of the oversight function: providing consultative support on matters ranging from routine oversight and basic information gathering to the most complex and highest profile investigations conducted by Congress. Given the size and scope of the modern executive establishment, Congress\u2019s oversight role may be even more significant\u2014and more demanding\u2014than when Woodrow Wilson wrote in his classic Congressional Government (1885): \u201cQuite as important as lawmaking is vigilant oversight of administration.\u201d\nLegal questions on Congress\u2019s investigatory powers should be directed to CRS legislative attorneys. For ease of reference, the relevant CRS legislative attorneys and legal products are cited throughout this report.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL30240", "sha1": "b5353507d165a21f7f77e735877806ecbcef45e7", "filename": "files/20200116_RL30240_b5353507d165a21f7f77e735877806ecbcef45e7.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=RL/html/RL30240_files&id=/1.png": "files/20200116_RL30240_images_d5f1182a32c4e15c4a3cf9f49556c5760947b56d.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=RL/html/RL30240_files&id=/0.png": "files/20200116_RL30240_images_fcd443ca591ef176f7adda48df6c49f4298fb57c.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL30240", "sha1": "4496c9c43ecf7c533f446bccedaa11ec7868cdb0", "filename": "files/20200116_RL30240_4496c9c43ecf7c533f446bccedaa11ec7868cdb0.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4808, "name": "Congressional Committee Procedure" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4860, "name": "Oversight" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4910, "name": "Legislative Branch" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 436627, "date": "2014-12-19", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:47:42.292990", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": "The Congressional Research Service (CRS) developed the Congressional Oversight Manual over 30 years ago, following a three-day December 1978 Workshop on Congressional Oversight and Investigations. The workshop was organized by a group of House and Senate committee aides from both parties and CRS at the request of the bipartisan House leadership. The Manual was produced by CRS with the assistance of a number of House committee staffers. In subsequent years, CRS has sponsored and conducted various oversight seminars for House and Senate staff and updated the Manual as circumstances warranted. Worth noting is the bipartisan recommendation of the House members of the 1993 Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress (Rept. No. 103-413, Vol. I):\n[A]s a way to further enhance the oversight work of Congress, the Joint Committee would encourage the Congressional Research Service to conduct on a regular basis, as it has done in the past, oversight seminars for Members and congressional staff and to update on a regular basis its Congressional Oversight Manual.\nOver the years, CRS has assisted many Members, committees, party leaders, and staff aides in the performance of the oversight function: the review, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of public policy. Understandably, given the size, reach, cost, and continuing growth of the modern executive establishment, Congress\u2019s oversight role is even more significant\u2014and more demanding\u2014than when Woodrow Wilson wrote in his classic Congressional Government (1885): \u201cQuite as important as lawmaking is vigilant oversight of administration.\u201d Today\u2019s lawmakers and congressional aides, as well as commentators and scholars, recognize that Congress\u2019s work, ideally, should not end when it passes legislation. Oversight is an integral way to make sure that the laws work and are being administered in an effective, efficient, and economical manner. In light of this destination, oversight can be viewed as one of Congress\u2019s principal responsibilities as it grapples with the complexities of the 21st century.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL30240", "sha1": "495c16a630590d2280254e5e28f837bd36aea79b", "filename": "files/20141219_RL30240_495c16a630590d2280254e5e28f837bd36aea79b.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL30240", "sha1": "802f6b3930c5e21fc8616b1e2ee5963f1a4822bb", "filename": "files/20141219_RL30240_802f6b3930c5e21fc8616b1e2ee5963f1a4822bb.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "CongOpsList", "id": 4154, "name": "Oversight of the Executive Branch" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc820403/", "id": "RL30240_2011Jun10", "date": "2011-06-10", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110610_RL30240_d494d03c79f29377a7b78d23dba82ef4ca66b491.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110610_RL30240_d494d03c79f29377a7b78d23dba82ef4ca66b491.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc40175/", "id": "RL30240_2011May19", "date": "2011-05-19", "retrieved": "2011-08-27T10:13:38", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": "Throughout its history, Congress has engaged in oversight of the executive branch - the review, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of public policy. The first several Congresses inaugurated such important oversight techniques as special investigations, reporting requirements, resolutions of inquiry, and use of the appropriations process to review executive activity. Contemporary developments, moreover, have increased the legislature's capacity and capabilities to check on and check the Executive. Public laws and congressional rules have measurably enhanced Congress's implied power under the Constitution to conduct oversight.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110519_RL30240_18dbfb9f433ee0932a9dc4f4232a6f12947d32e4.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110519_RL30240_18dbfb9f433ee0932a9dc4f4232a6f12947d32e4.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congress", "name": "Congress" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congressional oversight", "name": "Congressional oversight" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc819488/", "id": "RL30240_2007May01", "date": "2007-05-01", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070501_RL30240_7ef0a0c6dbb769ccbcf63c1ecf892d439faaecb1.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070501_RL30240_7ef0a0c6dbb769ccbcf63c1ecf892d439faaecb1.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815719/", "id": "RL30240_2007Jan03", "date": "2007-01-03", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070103_RL30240_6dffabad81f9adf56da695212e2fde0eb196fb1c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070103_RL30240_6dffabad81f9adf56da695212e2fde0eb196fb1c.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7086/", "id": "RL30240 2004-10-21", "date": "2004-10-21", "retrieved": "2005-09-20T09:49:34", "title": "Congressional Oversight Manual", "summary": "Throughout its history, Congress has engaged in oversight of the executive branch \u2014 the review, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of public policy. The first several Congresses inaugurated such important oversight techniques as special investigations, reporting requirements, resolutions of inquiry, and use of the appropriations process to review executive activity. Contemporary developments, moreover, have increased the legislature\u2019s capacity and capabilities to check on and check the Executive. Public laws and congressional rules have measurably enhanced Congress\u2019s implied power under the Constitution to conduct oversight.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20041021_RL30240_29af6713ac3cab571a0a72e9fc3bf5fe5863dbd2.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20041021_RL30240_29af6713ac3cab571a0a72e9fc3bf5fe5863dbd2.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congress", "name": "Congress" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congressional oversight", "name": "Congressional oversight" } ] } ], "topics": [ "American Law", "Foreign Affairs", "Legislative Process", "National Defense", "Science and Technology Policy" ] }