October 03, 2023 @ 10 am. SCOTUS hears CFPB case.
What did the Founders say about the Appropriations Clause and the Importance of having the Legislative Branch in charge of Federal Spending?
Does HERA satisfy this?
In Federalist Paper No. 58, James Madison explains how the power of the purse, which is the authority of the Legislative Branch (specifically, the House of Representatives) to control government spending, serves as a check on the Executive Branch and helps protect against potential abuses of power. Here's how it works:
1. Financial Oversight: The House of Representatives controls government spending by originating all revenue bills. This means that all tax and spending measures must start in the House. By doing so, the House has a direct say in how public funds are raised and allocated.
2. Fiscal Accountability: Madison argues that because House members are elected every two years, they are more directly accountable to the people than the members of the Senate (elected for longer terms) or the President (elected for four years). This frequent turnover in the House means that representatives are more responsive to the changing will of the electorate.
3. Preventing Executive Overreach: Madison believed that if the Executive Branch were given unchecked control over finances, it could potentially use public funds to strengthen its own power or engage in actions that the people did not support. By vesting the power of the purse in the House, the Executive Branch is limited in its ability to carry out policies without the consent of the people's representatives.
4. Balancing Power: The power of the purse provides a balance of power between the branches. If the Executive Branch oversteps its authority, the House can refuse to fund its initiatives or can use its control over spending to influence executive actions.
In essence, the control over appropriation allows the Legislative Branch, and specifically the House of Representatives, to exercise a significant degree of oversight and influence over the actions and policies of the Executive Branch, thus preventing potential abuses of power and ensuring that government actions are in line with the will of the people.
