How can Congress use its power of the purse to impact the agenda of the executive branch?

A. Congress could encourage the executive branch to fund certain departments or agencies.
B. Congress could force the executive branch to fund its own departments and agencies.
C. Congress could stop programs or plans proposed by the executive branch from being implemented.
D. Congress could eliminate executive departments or agencies.

one answer only

C. Congress could stop programs or plans proposed by the executive branch from being implemented.

All of the options listed are ways in which Congress can use its power of the purse to impact the agenda of the executive branch. However, the most direct way Congress can do this is by stopping programs or plans proposed by the executive branch from being implemented. Therefore, the correct answer is C. Congress could stop programs or plans proposed by the executive branch from being implemented.

C. Congress could stop programs or plans proposed by the executive branch from being implemented.

How to get the answer:
To determine how Congress can use its power of the purse to impact the agenda of the executive branch, we need to understand what the power of the purse entails. The power of the purse refers to Congress' authority to control the government's spending and budgetary decisions.

A. Congress could encourage the executive branch to fund certain departments or agencies:
While Congress has the ability to encourage or strongly suggest certain spending priorities to the executive branch, it does not have the power to force the executive branch to comply. Ultimately, it is the executive branch's decision on how to allocate funds.

B. Congress could force the executive branch to fund its own departments and agencies:
Congress does have the authority to appropriate funds for its own departments and agencies, but this does not directly impact the agenda of the executive branch. It only ensures the funding for those specific departments or agencies within Congress itself.

D. Congress could eliminate executive departments or agencies:
Although Congress has the power to create or dissolve executive departments and agencies, this does not directly affect the agenda of the executive branch. It relates more to the structure and organization of the government.

C. Congress could stop programs or plans proposed by the executive branch from being implemented:
This option correctly aligns with the power of the purse. When Congress controls the budget, it can decide to withhold or reduce funding for specific executive branch programs or plans. By doing so, Congress can effectively prevent the implementation of those programs, thus impacting the agenda of the executive branch.