Chapter 10: Federal BureaucracyChapter 10: Federal Bureaucracy

Section 1Section 1

Bureaucratic OrganizationBureaucratic Organization

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

What is the What is the major major importance of importance of the Federal the Federal Bureaucracy?Bureaucracy?

I CAN:I CAN:

1.1. Define the concept of Bureaucracy and Define the concept of Bureaucracy and describe its characteristics, structure, and describe its characteristics, structure, and functions.functions.

2.2. Explain the concept of a Bureaucrat and Explain the concept of a Bureaucrat and their functions within the governmenttheir functions within the government

Bureaucracy - A professional

corps of unelected officials organized in a pyramid hierarchy, functioning under impersonal uniform rules and procedures.

BureaucracyBureaucracy

Offices have Offices have specifiedspecified missions missions and employees are and employees are assigned assigned responsibility based responsibility based on on meritmerit, , knowledge, and knowledge, and experience.experience.

Organization Cont.Organization Cont.

bureaucracybureaucracyDefinition: an administrative

system, especially in a government, that divides work into specific categories carried out by special departments of nonelected officials

bureaucracybureaucracy

• literally means “rule by desks”

• government by clerks

Duty of BureaucracyDuty of BureaucracyCabinet DepartmentsCabinet Departments Most Important Most Important

duty: Carry out duty: Carry out the the Day-to-DayDay-to-Day business of the business of the governmentgovernment

1515 cabinet cabinet departmentsdepartments

Who are the Who are the ““Bureaucrats?Bureaucrats?”” 97% are career government employees97% are career government employees Only 10% live in the D.C. areaOnly 10% live in the D.C. area 30% work for the D.O.D.30% work for the D.O.D. Less than 15% work for social welfare Less than 15% work for social welfare

agenciesagencies Most are white collar workers: Most are white collar workers:

secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers& engineers

Civil employees more diverse Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congressdemographically than Congress

BureaucratsBureaucrats

A A CivilCivil servant servant

PermanentPermanent employee employee of the government. of the government. Hired on basis of Hired on basis of competitive competitive examination and examination and meritmerit..

The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:

4 million employees; 2.8 million are 4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or civilians or ““civil servantscivil servants””

President only appoints 3% (patronage or President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments)political appointments)

15 cabinet level departments15 cabinet level departments200+ independent agencies with 2,000+ 200+ independent agencies with 2,000+

bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal

Service, Veterans AdministrationService, Veterans Administration

Bureaucratic StatisticsBureaucratic Statistics

2.92.9 million civilians million civilians 1.41.4 million military million military 4.24.2 million state million state 11.411.4 million local million local

Total: Total: 19.819.8 million million people work for people work for governmentgovernment

Where do Federal Where do Federal Employees Work?Employees Work?

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

What Jobs Do Bureaucrats What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?Do?

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

Demographics of Federal Employees

Race/Ethnicity

Native American2%

African American17%

Hispanic7%

Asian5%

Caucasian69%

Functions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracyFunctions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracy

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)

Source: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)

Source: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp

The Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet Departments

• The 15 cabinet departments headed by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president and approved by the Senate

• Each department “expert” in specific policy area

• Each department has its own budget

• Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is newest department

Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive Agencies

Established by Congress with separate Established by Congress with separate status outside the executive branch status outside the executive branch

Given a specific mandate and generally Given a specific mandate and generally perform a service function, not a perform a service function, not a regulatory one. regulatory one.

Some examples include: Social Security Some examples include: Social Security Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.

Independent Independent AgenciesAgencies

Similar to cabinet Similar to cabinet departments but departments but usually have a usually have a narrowernarrower area of area of responsibilityresponsibility

Ex: NASA, CIAEx: NASA, CIA Perform services for Perform services for

the executive branchthe executive branch

Independent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory Commissions

IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the activity or interest such as the Federal Federal Communications CommissionCommunications Commission (public air (public air waves) or waves) or Federal Reserve BoardFederal Reserve Board (banking (banking system, money supply)system, money supply)

IRCs operate independently from Congress IRCs operate independently from Congress and the Presidentand the President

Once appointed and seated, members Once appointed and seated, members cannot be removed without causecannot be removed without cause

Regulatory Regulatory CommissionsCommissions

Administrative units that Administrative units that have responsibility for have responsibility for the the monitoringmonitoring and and regulationregulation of ongoing of ongoing economic activitieseconomic activities

Created to make rules Created to make rules for large industries and for large industries and businesses that affect businesses that affect public interestpublic interest

Under intense pressure Under intense pressure from lobbyistsfrom lobbyists

Ex: EPA (environment), Ex: EPA (environment), SEC (stocks and bonds)SEC (stocks and bonds)

Government CorporationsGovernment Corporations

Government owned businesses Government owned businesses created by Congress created by Congress

May or may not be profitable, but May or may not be profitable, but serve a public needserve a public need

Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public BroadcastingCorporation for Public Broadcasting

Government Government CorporationsCorporations

Are similar to Are similar to privateprivate organizations in that organizations in that they can they can chargecharge for for their services but their services but differ in that they differ in that they receive receive federalfederal fundingfunding

Ex: TVA, USPS, Ex: TVA, USPS, AmtrakAmtrak

Organization of the Federal BureaucracyOrganization of the Federal Bureaucracy

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a BureaucracyBureaucracy

• administration of government through departments

• consists of unelected often highly trained professionals

• task specialization• hierarchical authority

Public PerceptionsPublic Perceptionsof Bureaucraciesof Bureaucracies

• impersonal

• inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures

• may stifle effectiveness and innovation

• “red tape”

Title: The Damages of the

Bureaucracy

Artist: unknown, La Presna, Panama

Date: May, 2006

Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com

Criticism of BureaucracyCriticism of Bureaucracy

I. RED TAPEtoo many rigid procedures too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstancestoo many forms to fill out, lines to wait

II. INEFFICIENCYlack of incentive to be productive

III. DUPLICATION OF SERVICESbureaucracy is so complicated agencies are performing similar or sometimes the same functions

(Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps with Dept. of Interior, etc.)federalism makes this more complicated--many services are provided at both the state and national levels.

Criticisms ContinuedCriticisms ContinuedIV. BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKERregulations end up having the effect of law.duty of implementing laws often allows bureaucrats to interpret those laws.

V. BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIGprivatization would be more effective

VI. BUREAUCRACY MAY BE CORRUPTiron triangle -the relationship between the Executive branch, Congress, and interest groups can lead to policy-making decisions which benefit private interests at the expense of the public good.

Title: Title: Federal Employees Self Esteem ClassFederal Employees Self Esteem Class

Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknownSource: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

The President Supervises the The President Supervises the BureaucracyBureaucracy

The President can:The President can:

• appoint & remove appoint & remove agency agency headsheads

• reorganize the reorganize the bureaucracybureaucracy

• issue executive ordersissue executive orders

• reduce an agency's reduce an agency's budgetbudget

President Bush speaks about his budget priorities for FY 2007

Congress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress can:Congress can:

create or abolish agencies create or abolish agencies & departments & departments

cut or reduce funding cut or reduce funding

investigate agency activitiesinvestigate agency activities

hold committee hearings hold committee hearings

pass legislation that alters pass legislation that alters an agency's functionsan agency's functions

influence or even fail to confirm influence or even fail to confirm presidential appointmentspresidential appointments

Former FEMA Chie Michael Brown testifies before

House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina

Federal Courts Check the BureaucracyFederal Courts Check the Bureaucracy

Federal courts can:Federal courts can:

through through judicial reviewjudicial review rule on whether the rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted bureaucracy has acted within the law and the within the law and the U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

provide due process for provide due process for individuals affected by individuals affected by a bureaucratic actiona bureaucratic action Supreme Court of the United States

QuestionQuestion

Why do you think that the Why do you think that the organization of organization of Bureaucracies are so Bureaucracies are so confusing?confusing?

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

What is the What is the major major importance of importance of the Federal the Federal Bureaucracy?Bureaucracy?

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

http://www.federalbudget.com/chartinfo.html

www.youthleadership.net The Federal Bureaucracy: Examining the The Federal Bureaucracy: Examining the

Fourth BranchFourth Branch