Which body of the U.S. government is responsible for overseeing regulatory commissions?

The body of the U.S. government responsible for overseeing regulatory commissions is Congress. This oversight function is primarily exercised through legislative authority. Congress has the power to create regulatory commissions, set their mandates, and appropriate funding for their operations. It also conducts hearings, reviews rules and regulations, and can amend the laws that govern these commissions, ensuring accountability and alignment with public policy goals.

Regulatory commissions, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), operate with a certain degree of independence, but they remain subject to congressional oversight. This includes the ability to summon commission members for testimony, review their budgets and spending, and legislate additional powers or limitations.

The Supreme Court, while it interprets federal laws and can review actions taken by regulatory commissions, does not oversee them in a direct sense. The President can appoint commissioners and has some influence over regulatory priorities through executive actions, but the official oversight and legislative authority primarily reside within Congress. State legislatures do not have authority over federal regulatory commissions, as these entities operate at the federal level.