FRQ 16

Congress gives federal agencies policy making discretion because they do not want to be the victims of backlash if the policy is ill-received. Also, Congress does not want to devote time to the long process of implementing policies. The Federal Communications Commission controls much of communications and media such as television, radio, and telephone lines. The FCC exercises that discretion by issuing licenses and to companies and restricting inappropriate content for audiences. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for air, water, and other natural resources. The EPA ensures companies are not operating environmentally harmful procedures such as dumping waste into a river. Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent by controlling each agency's budget and forming oversight committees.


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2006-3 The United States congress and the president together have the power to enact federal law. Federal bureaucratic agencies have the responsibility to execute federal law. However, in the carrying out of these laws, federal agencies have policy making discretion.
(1) Explain two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy making discretion in executing federal laws.
(2) Choose one of the bureaucratic agencies listed below. Identify the policy area over which it exercises policy-making discretion and give one specific example of how it exercises that discretion.
a. Environmental Protection Agency
b. Federal Communications Commission
c. Federal Reserve board
(3) Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent.