Who is the check and balance for congress?

Question

When congress is allowed to investigate every tick of the clock, who watches over them?

Why does it seem that they get a free pass to act like the nasty politiking, self-serving people they are?

Answer 1

Used to be that the Supreme Court was the third check. Now, ?????

Congress' actions can be declared "unconstitutional" by the court. Or, the president may "veto" any legislation which congress passes. These are the ways that congress can be "checked".

Problem is that the supreme court lost it's will to check the other 2 branches of the gov. back when FDR went on his spree of unconstitutional acts (when he threatened to load the court with more justices who thought like him).

The constitutional reason for the federal gov, is twofold - 1)to provide for the common defense, 2) to promote interstate commerce. Congress has grabbed power over our every-day lives in the name of interstate commerce for the past 60 years - unconstitutionally, without check.

Answer 2

I theory, both the president and the Supreme Court are the checks on Congress. Unfortunately, neither performs their job very well, and haven't in many years (and I'm talking Republican /and/ Democratic administrations).

95% of the members of Congress need to be booted out ASAP, but that isn't going to happen unless people wake up and see what their government has become. I saw it's about time we returned to the extremely small, non-invasive government we had pre-FDR, and even pre-WWI.

Answer 3

The President's check on Congress is his veto.

The judiciary's check on Congress is to determine whether or not the laws they enact are constitutionally sound.

Also your check on them is calling them and bothering them, writing them letters, getting other people involved, and even voting for other people.

Answer 4

the real question is.............who's watching the watchers???? they should leave us alone and spend their time and energy on something worthwhile.................