CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION
This research examines the oversight of the social security program by the Congress during the Reagan Administration. The principal questions addressed through the conduct of this research are as follows: (1) What motivated the Congressional oversight of the social security program? (2) What were the principal information sources upon which the Congressional oversight committees relied? (2) What was the impact of the oversight effort? and (3) How was the Congressional oversight effort received by the relevant constituency groups?
Within the context of government, oversight refers to watchful and responsible care (Jones and Barrett, 1992, p. 24). With respect to Congressional oversight, it is the responsibility of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to review, investigate, and evaluate on a continuing basis how well the laws, program, policies, and activities of government are conducted, and to determine on the basis of this oversight what changes are require (Jones and Barrett, 1992, p. 24). Congress is expected to perform a continual oversight on an informal basis. In specific instances, however, formal oversight processes are established. The legislatively-mandated review of the activities of the Federal Reserve System and the Central Intelligence Agency are examples of formal Congressional oversight. Much of the more or less routine work of Congressional committees and sub-committees constitutes a less formalized approach to Congressional oversight wherein the members of the committees and sub-committees monitor actions and developments within their spheres of responsibility.
Motivation for Congressional Oversight of the Social Security Program
Congressional oversight of the social security program during the Reagan Administration reflected a combination of formal and less forma...