What is the term for Congress's efforts to exercise control over executive agencies through hearings and investigations?

The correct term for Congress's efforts to exercise control over executive agencies through hearings and investigations is oversight. Oversight is a crucial function of Congress as it ensures that executive agencies are implementing laws effectively and managing public resources responsibly. Through oversight, Congress utilizes its authority to hold hearings, gather testimonies from agency officials, and investigate operations, thereby providing a check on the executive branch’s power. This function not only helps to identify inefficiencies or mismanagement within executive agencies but also promotes transparency and accountability in government operations.

While other terms like regulatory power, executive authority, and monitoring power may relate to different aspects of governance, they do not specifically capture the process through which Congress holds executive agencies accountable. Regulatory power typically refers to the authority granted to agencies to create rules and regulations. Executive authority encompasses the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch itself. Monitoring power is a less commonly used term and does not specifically denote the formal legislative actions that characterize congressional oversight. Therefore, oversight is the most accurate choice in describing Congress's activities related to controlling executive agencies.