The Federal Bureaucracy

The definition of bureaucracy involves all of the following except

20%

20%

20%

20%

20% 1. A large organization

2. Authority divided among several managers

3. Complexity of structure

4. Appointed officials

5. An issue network

Government programs in the US tend to be less centrally run, with less control, then their European

counterparts.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

The responsibilities of the bureaucracy is laid out in section II of the Constitution.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

Initially, the State Department was the only Department with much power.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

The “spoils system” is another phrase for political patronage.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

Article I of the Constitution explicitly provides Congress the authority to delegate regulatory

powers to bureaucracy.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

One reason federal officials performed mainly a service role in the second half of the 19th century was because of a desire of limited government.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

The Supreme Court’s view well into the 20th century was

that agencies possessed the power to regulate commerce.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

The federal bureaucracy today employs the same number of people as it did during World War II.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

The shape of the federal bureaucracy was largely formed during the Great Depression and World

War II.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

Bureaucracy is responsible for ensuring that policies and programs enacted by Congress and

the president are carried out.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

The largest bureaucratic department is the Department of Homeland Security.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

Bureaucracy is organized and structured as a pyramid.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

A. What is a Bureacucracy?

1. large complex administrative structure that handles everyday business of an organization

2. Federal Gov’t is largest org. in U.S.

3. in both private and public sector

a. MTV, Starbucks, Air Force, Rake town gov’t ,Catholic Church

4. efficient way to organize people to do work

B. Features of Federal Bureaucracy

1. chain of command = hierarchical authority

a. know who has decision-making power

2. job specialization = bureaucrat (person who works for the org.)

a. allows focus on one task

3. formal rules = policies and procedures

a. decisions based on standards, not someone’s likes or dislikes

b. sometimes called “red tape”

4. political appointments head the organization

C. 2 Types of Agencies

1. Staff agency – provide support, advice, budgeting, organizational assistance

2. Line agency – actually perform the tasks (“on the front lines”)

D. 3 Main Groups of Executive Branch Agencies

1. Executive Office of the President (EOP) – STAFF AGENCIESSTAFF AGENCIES

a. White House Office (West Wing)

1) chief of staff – president’s Number 2

2) press secretary – voicebox of president

3) counsel – legal advice

4) policy advisors – issue advice

5) political strategists

6) social office – ceremonial protocol/First Lady

7) ~400 WH employees

b. National Security Council

c. Office of Homeland Security

d. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

1) Fiscal year = Oct 1 thru Sept 30

e. any other office president creates

2. Executive Departments – Cabinet-Level Positions (LINE AGENCIES)

a. cabinet – group of advisors for the president made up of department secretaries (heads)

1) original cabinet had 3 dept’s: State, Treasury, War

2) now, have 15 dept’s

3) established by custom

b. each department handles specific issues & contain subunits

c. secretaries are appointed by president/approved by the Senate

1) chosen for political loyalty

2) knowledge of that field

3) geographical balance

4) race/gender balance

d. cabinet is used/not used based on each president’s preference

3. Independent Agencies – LINE AGENCIES

a. until 1880s, Cabinet handled everything

b. now, ~150 independent agencies help executive branch

c. 3 Types of Independent Agencies

1) Independent Executive Agencies

a) just don’t fit under any cabinet dep’t

b) NASA, General Services Admin., Office of Personnel Management, Environ. Protect. Agency, Peace Corps, American Battle Monuments

Commission

2) Independent Regulatory Commissions

a) largely beyond reach of president’s control

b) headed by boards, not one head

c) Federal Trade Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commiss.

d) often have legislative, judicial, and exec. powers

Rule Setting, Alliance Building, Iron Triangles

• Reg. agencies set rules and regs. that industry must follow

• Has led to the creation of iron triangles– Informal alliances made up of:

• Particular industry and interest groups

• Cong. committee dealing with that industry

• Agency that is affected

– Work to make policy that impacts area of interest

• Also can form alliance or issue networks– Made up of:

• Pro/con coalitions• Congress• Bureaucrats

– Much more complex than triangle

c. Gov’t Corporations

1) carry out business-like activities

2) FDIC, US Postal Service, Amtrak, TN Valley Authority

3) its stock is held by US gov’t & employees are public workers

F. Civil Service

1. civilian employees who staff the bureaucracy

2. 2.7 million in the federal civil service; only 2,500 are political appointees

3. used to be “spoils system” – “to the victor goes the spoils”

4. patronage – giving jobs to friends and supporters

5. now, must apply for job thru OPM and by qualified