American Government

Chapter 15 Notes

Government at Work: The Bureaucracy

Section 1

The Federal Bureaucracy

What is a Bureaucracy A large, complex administrative structure that

handles the everyday business of an organization

It is an efficient and an effective way to organize people to do work… most of the time

Three Features of a Bureaucracy Hierarchical authority

Chain of command Job Specialization

Each Bureaucrat has a certain defined duty and responsibility

Formalized Rules The Benefits of a Bureaucracy

Generally the most effective way to work together on a large and complex task

Major Elements of the Federal Bureaucracy

All the agencies, people, and procedures through which the Federal Government operates

Not spelled out specifically in the U.S. Constitution

Must have an effective administration The government’s many administrators

and agencies

The Name Game

Sometimes names refer to level of importance that the unit of the Executive branch has

However, there is little standardized use of titles

Staff and Line Agencies

The several units that make up any administrative organization can be classified as either staff or line agencies

Staff agencies They aid the chief executive and other

administrators by offering advice and other assistance in the management of the organization

Line agencies Actually perform the tasks for which

organizations exists

Section 2

The Executive Office of the President

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Is an umbrella agency, including all the separate agencies with the job of helping the President enforce the laws

The White House Office

The “nerve center” of the Executive Office is the White House Office

Most of the work is done in the Historic West Wing

Chief of Staff to the President directs all of the operations of the White House Office

Including Press Secretary, The counsel, and the President’s physician

The National Security Council Most foreign policy issues are taken care of

by the National Security Council (NSC) Includes Vice President, secretaries of state and

defense, Head of CIA and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Office of Homeland Security Newest EOP, created in response to

September 11 Work to protect this country against any and all

acts of terrorism

Other EOP Agencies Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

2nd most influential unit in the EOP Main task is preparation of the federal budget

A very detailed estimate of receipts and expenditures, an anticipation of federal income and outgo, during the next fiscal year

Fiscal year is the 12-month period used by government and business for record keeping

Lasts from October 1 through September 30

Expression of public policy in money terms Manages much of the actions of other agencies, to

verify that they are spending according to the President’s policy positions

Other EOP Agencies (Con’t) Office of Faith-Based and Community

Initiatives Office of National Drug Control Policy Council of Economic Advisers

Gives the President advice on the state of the U.S. economy

Other Units in the EOP Includes agencies that take care of the domestic

affairs All matters not directly connected to the realm of foreign

affairs

Section 3

The Executive Departments

Executive Departments Often called the Cabinet departments, they are

the traditional units of federal administration, and each of them is built around some broad field of activity

Chief Officers and Staff Each department is headed by a secretary

An official in charge of a department of government

Except Department of Justice Directed by the Attorney General

These positions must be approved by the Senate

Executive Departments (Con’t)

Subunits Allow the department to meet different

specific needs The Departments Today

Department of State is the oldest and most prestigious

Department of Defense is the largest There is a total of 15 Departments

Including Department of Labor

The Cabinet An informal advisory body brought together by

the President to serve their needs The Cabinet is generally formed by the 15

Executive Departments Appointees to the Departments must be approved

by the Senate Women and Minorities

Has gradually played a greater role in the Cabinet, since FDR

The Cabinet’s Role Mainly to be advisers to the President, however it is

not called for in the Constitution A tradition President’s have carried on