The Federal BureaucracyBy: Daisy, Karina, and Stacey

What is Bureaucracy?-The Bureaucracy are government organizations, usually staffed with officials selected on the basis of their expertise, that implement public policy - Has a hierarchical authority structure & operate on the merit principle**The idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent & skill.

What does it do? -It is the muscle behind the Government.-It is everything from collecting revenue to protecting the environment to regulating the economy. - Depending on which area some act with *autonomy. -Use $2 trillion in budget*The quality or state of being self-governing

Why is it important ?-The bureaucracy is the engine of government.-When Congress passes a law, someone has to enforce it, and that is able to happen with the bureaucrats.-Without bureaucracy our lives would collapse into disorder. -The bureaucracy plays a key role in the attempt to meet the needs of the public.

BureaucratsCivil Servants-Bureaucrats shape policy as administrators, as implementors, and as regulators. -Patronage: Jobs and promotions awarded for political reasons.-Civil Service: Hiring and promotion based on the merit and nonpartisan government service. -Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 created a federal civil service so hiring and promotion would be based on the merit.

Organization of the Bureaucracy- A complex society requires a variety of bureaucratic organizationsFour components:-Cabinet Departments-Independent Executive agencies-Independent Regulatory agencies-Government Organizations

Cabinet Departments -There are 15 cabinet departments that serve as the major service organizations of the government. -Independent Executive Agencies are not within cabinets and report to the President. Ex: EPA, GSA, NASA-Independent Regulatory Agencies make and implement rules and regulations in a particular sector of the economy to protect the public interest. Ex: FRB, FCC, FTC

Civil Service Reform-Pendleton Act of 1883: Employment on the basis of merit and open, competitive exams which created the civil service commission.-Hatch Act of 1939: Government employees cannot take an active role in the political management of a campaign. -Rutan Vs. Republican Party of Illinois: Said that employers cannot use political affiliation as a basis for hiring or promotion.

Staffing the Bureaucracy-National Aristocracy: Thomas Jefferson fired Federalist employees and place his own men in government positions. -Spoils System: Andrew Jackson used government positions to reward supporters and this is when bureaucracy became corrupt, bloated and inefficient.

Iron triangles-A mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees. -Iron triangles dominate some areas of domestic policymaking. -The relationship between bureaucracy is not as rigid as gthe iron triangle theorywould have us believe.

Practice Question #1Which of the following statements accurately describes the size of the federal bureaucracy? A. Homeland Security is the largest department in the bureaucracy.B. The State Department is the largest department in the bureaucracy. C. The size of the federal bureaucracy has remained relatively stable in recent years.D. The size of the federal bureaucracy has doubled since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. E. The percentage of the workforce employed by the federal government has increased slightly in recent years.

Practice Question #2 Most federal bureaucrats are hired in which of the following ways?A. They are awarded positions by the political Party in power. B. They take an examination to prove their qualifications.C. They are appointed to a position by the President.D. They work in the legislative branch and then move to the bureaucracy. E. They get their position in exchange for campaign contributions

Practice Question #3 Which of the following best describes the role of the bureaucracy?A. To implement policies B. To maintain order C. To promote the general welfare D. To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity E. To ensure domestic tranquility

Practice Question #4Which of the following is a government corporation?A. The Department of the InteriorB. The Food and Drug Administrarion C. The National Science Foundation D. General MotorsE. Amtrak

Practice Question #5The President exercises his influence over the federal bureaucracy in which of the following ways?A. By hiring interest groups to influence certain agenciesB. By appointing administration sympathetic to the president's policy agendaC. By creating new Cabinet-level agenciesD. By frequently removing administration from officeE. By having federal judges disband ineffective agencies

Practice FRQ QuestionIron triangles, or subgovernments, often form around a specific policy are to shape and administer relevant policies. Select ONE of the following policy areas and complete the tasks.-Agriculture -The environment-Product safety -Oila) Identify a participant that would fulfill EACH role in the iron triangle.b) Describe something each participant would provide the other participants in the triangle.