Multistate Bar Examination Practice Question

The correct answer hinges on understanding how the separation of powers doctrine impacts Congress's authority to limit the executive. Congress has significant authority over spending under its enumerated powers, particularly through the Appropriations Clause, which allows Congress to control federal expenditures. Congress can impose conditions on how funds are spent, including restricting the executive’s ability to use funds for certain purposes. However, Congress cannot intrude on the exclusive domain of executive powers, such as the President's core treaty-making and foreign affairs functions, without violating the separation of powers. The correct answer balances Congress’s legal authority to condition spending against the limitations of Congress when encroaching upon inherent executive powers. Understanding these principles helps students recognize when a statute might be a valid exercise of congressional authority, and when it improperly restricts the President's core constitutional functions.