What are the other duties of Congress?

Quick answer: What the roles of congress cover

Short summary: roles of congress

The roles of congress include several nonlegislative powers that support oversight, accountability, and constituent service, grounded in the Constitution and practiced through chamber and committee rules.

The U.S. Constitution provides the foundational authorities that give Congress responsibilities such as impeachment and advice and consent, which work alongside oversight and administrative functions to check the executive and support citizens, as described in constitutional text and related guidance U.S. Constitution and on our constitutional rights page

Why this matters: these roles shape how government actions are reviewed, how nominees are confirmed, and how constituents get help from federal agencies.

Why nonlegislative duties matter for governance and accountability

Nonlegislative duties help maintain the separation of powers by giving Congress tools to review and, where appropriate, constrain the executive branch.

Congressional oversight and confirmations affect how agencies operate and how public officials are held accountable, with committees and chamber procedures shaping outcomes and timetables Congressional Research Service oversight overview and the Congressional Oversight Manual Congressional Oversight Manual

At the same time, norms, resources, and partisanship influence whether and how those powers are used, which in turn affects public trust and the perceived effectiveness of oversight.

Constitutional foundations of nonlegislative powers

The Constitution provides several specific nonlegislative powers to Congress, including impeachment and the Senate’s advice and consent role, and it implies other oversight and administrative authorities through the structure of separation of powers U.S. Constitution and analysis of congressional authority Congress’s Authority to Influence and Control Executive …

The design of separate chambers assigns some functions differently to the House and Senate, which shapes how nonlegislative duties are exercised in practice.

Advice and consent: Senate responsibilities for nominees and treaties

Advice and consent is the Senate’s constitutionally assigned role to consider executive and judicial nominees and to ratify treaties; this role operates separately from lawmaking and has its own procedures and committees Advice and Consent

In a confirmation, the Senate typically uses committee hearings to vet a nominee, followed by a committee vote and then floor consideration, with rules and political considerations shaping timing and outcomes.

Treaty ratification is a distinct process that requires a two-thirds Senate vote for approval, and it is handled through a combination of committee review and floor debate consistent with Senate practice Advice and Consent

Impeachment: how the House and Senate share responsibilities

Impeachment is a two-stage constitutional process in which the House brings articles of impeachment and the Senate conducts a trial and may convict and remove federal officers, a division set out in constitutional text and historical chamber guidance House historical guidance on impeachment

The House adopts articles of impeachment through committee inquiry and floor votes, and if adopted the Senate may hold a trial that can lead to conviction by the constitutionally required threshold.

Oversight and investigations: hearings, subpoenas, and GAO support

Congressional oversight is carried out through committee tools such as hearings, subpoenas, document requests, staff investigations, and referrals, with practices summarized in CRS materials for committee use Congressional Research Service oversight overview

The Government Accountability Office provides investigatory support and reporting that committees often use to document findings and follow up on agency performance and compliance GAO oversight issue summary and a GAO options report GAO options report

Committees commonly rely on staff work, subpoenas when necessary, and interagency records to build a factual record, while political dynamics and resource limits affect the scope and timing of inquiries.

Budgetary and administrative powers beyond passing laws

Congress’s appropriations and budget authority allow it to fund or limit federal programs, and that budget control is a key lever for oversight and shaping agency priorities GAO oversight issue summary and see how a bill becomes a law

Administrative authorities include organizing committees, defining agency reporting requirements, and using hearings to examine how laws are implemented, which complements appropriations and investigative work.

Constituent services and casework: daily responsibilities of members

Constituent services, also called casework, are routine tasks where members and staff help individuals navigate federal agencies, benefits, and claims, as described in CRS summaries of member practices CRS casework overview (see constituent services vs legislation)

Typical casework examples include helping veterans with VA claims, assisting constituents with Social Security questions, and resolving delays with federal agencies, handled by district and Washington offices according to established procedures.

How to evaluate nonlegislative actions: criteria for voters and journalists

To assess oversight or confirmations, check primary sources such as constitutional text, committee reports, GAO reports, CRS analyses, and official chamber pages for documented procedures and findings CRS oversight overview

Useful criteria include whether an action follows legal authority, whether evidence is documented publicly, whether procedures were transparent, and whether findings led to clear follow-up steps.

When reporting or judging actions, avoid assuming policy outcomes from a single hearing or statement; look instead for documented reports, votes, or formal referrals that show substantive results.

Common mistakes and misconceptions about roles of congress

A frequent confusion is to treat oversight or investigations as the same as criminal charges; oversight can uncover problems but does not itself prosecute criminal conduct.

Another common error is assuming a hearing automatically produces policy change or agency action; hearings can inform decisions but follow-up and legal steps are often necessary for results, and procedural limits apply CRS oversight overview

Practical scenarios: examples of nonlegislative duties in action

Confirmation example: a presidential nominee typically appears before the relevant Senate committee for questioning, the committee votes, and the nomination then moves to the full Senate for debate and a confirmation vote; committee records and the Senate’s advice and consent guidance document each step Advice and Consent

Oversight example: a committee launches an inquiry, issues document requests or subpoenas, receives GAO analysis to support findings, and then publishes a report or recommends policy or funding changes based on that evidence GAO oversight issue summary and a GAO options report GAO options report

Casework example: a constituent asks for help with a delayed benefits payment, staff contacts the agency on the constituent’s behalf, tracks case status, and uses standard guidance to escalate if necessary; CRS descriptions explain how offices manage these requests CRS casework overview

Limits and open questions in 2026: resources, norms, and partisanship

Resource constraints such as committee staff capacity and funding shape how deeply Congress can pursue investigations or follow up on findings, which affects oversight scope and timing CRS oversight overview

Norms and partisan practices also change how tools like subpoenas and confirmations are used, and readers should consult recent committee reports and GAO or CRS work for current, local examples of these effects GAO oversight issue summary

Conclusion: what to take away about the roles of congress

Takeaway 1: The Constitution establishes the basic nonlegislative authorities that let Congress check the other branches and perform oversight U.S. Constitution

Takeaway 2: Primary nonlegislative roles include impeachment, Senate advice and consent, oversight supported by GAO and CRS, budgetary authority, and constituent services, each with distinct procedures and limits CRS oversight overview

Takeaway 3: When evaluating congressional actions, consult primary sources such as committee reports, GAO studies, and constitutional text rather than accepting summaries without evidence.