Committee structure is limited in considering current economic and social realities - three different committees sought to interview Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberf about data privacy
Senate approval
President will rarely try to appoint someone they think will not get approved
Not a common occurrence, especially with most important election - SC
Depends if the Senate is controlled by the President’s party or not e.g. 2016 Obama trying to appoint Garland failed because the Senate was dominated by the Republicans
National crisis
Scrutiny can become ineffective in times of national crisis
9/11 - Bush able to form Dep of Homeland Security and war on terror
Party control
Unified government can restrain scrutiny e.g. Bush from 2002-2006
‘Party points scoring’
Attempts to hold the other party to account
People see it as a pointless back and forth
Clinton’s email investigation
Presidential legislative powers
President able to veto legislation
President able to write a signing statement alongside a bill
