The American Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Sunshine Act together constitute a congressional ________ that allows Congress to keep a close eye on the bureaucracy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phrase "fire-alarm oversight" refers to a system in which Congress relies on interest groups, the media, and whistleblowers to alert them to potential problems within the bureaucracy, rather than actively conducting continuous monitoring (police-patrol oversight). The American Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Sunshine Act all provide avenues for interested parties to raise issues and provide information to Congress, which fits with the fire-alarm oversight model. Therefore, option D, fire-alarm oversight, is the best answer.