Answer:
First Question:
Through legislative debate and compromise, the U.S. Congress makes laws that influence our daily lives. It holds hearings to inform the legislative process, conducts investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government.
Second Question:
Congress’s challenges in exerting itself as a meaningful check on the executive branch take several forms. One involves the legislative branch’s capacity to gather and process information about what is happening in federal agencies and the White House—a task that requires sufficient staff resources. In the absence of internal capacity to undertake these tasks, Congress is forced to either turn to outside sources—like lobbyists—to get the information members to need or leave oversight undone.
Step-by-step explanation: