The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy:

• A systematic structure that handles the everyday business of an organization

Bureaucrats

• The staff members (civil servants) of the federal bureaucracy

• Most belong to the Executive branch, but some report to Congress

Federal bureaucracy is organized into ...

• Agencies• Boards• Commissions• Corporations • Advisory committees

Why have a bureaucracy?

• Efficient: clear chain of command, one person is boss with final decision

• Effective: set procedures and rules, specific functions, defined responsibilities

• When the U.S. was formed, there were 2,120 … today nearly 3 million people work for the federal government!

How is the Executive Branch organized? President and Vice President

President = Chief ExecutiveVice President = must have same qualifications as President; presidential succession

White House Office-organize and manage the Executive

branch based on structure style- Run the day-to-day affairs

- Appointed by President (some need approval)

POLICY POLITICS AND MANAGEMENT

SUPPORT

3 areas of White House Office

Political and Management

• Chief of Staff – Closet advisor– No Senate approval– Coordinate day-to-day activities of the President – Oversee other offices

• National Security Advisor – Daily security briefings– This person often becomes Secretary of State

Denis McDonough

Susan Rice

Policy• Executive office of the President – Key White House staff, close advisors and experts

(appointed by President, some need approval)– Offices:

• Office of White House• Office of VP

– Only constitutional duties: President of Senate, 25th amendment becomes President is President is disabled, Presidential succession

• Office of Management and Budget– Assist President in preparing budget and supervise administration

after Senate approves *Economic Policy

• Office of Administration• US Trade Representatives

– Advise President on foreign trade and negotiating agreements

Support • Press Secretary– NO Senate approval– Chief spokesman for the President – Control flow of information and set agenda– In charge of press briefs

Josh Earnest

Cabinet

• The Cabinet is made up of the 15 Executive departments created to advise the President and oversee a specific policy area

Cabinet

• Article II – “heads of departments”; but doesn’t list specifics about president’s advisors

• Chosen for expertise in area– Appointed by President, confirmed by Senate– Must be “vetted” (review credentials) – Can be fired by President without Senate approval– Becoming more diverse – Each department has many levels of authority

Inner Cabinet: President’s closest advisors

1. Department of State • Secretary of State = John Kerry• Implements foreign policy• Staffs embassies (offices of ambassadors in

foreign countries)• Represents the U.S. at United Nations

2. Department of Treasury

• Secretary of Treasury = Jack Lew• Manages the nation’s money• Collect and oversee taxes• Borrow and print money

3. Department of Defense

• Secretary of Defense: Ashton Carter• Manage armed forces• Maintain forts, bases, harbors• Conduct military intelligence

4. Department of Justice

• Attorney General = Eric Holder• Attorney for U.S. • Run FBI, maintain federal prisons• Investigate federal law violations

5. Department of Interior

• Protect public parks and land• DNR• Native American Programs

6. Department of Agriculture

• Help farmers (subsidies) • Food stamps/EBT• School lunch program

7. Department of Commerce

• Business in U.S. and abroad• Census• Weather service, patents, weights, measures• Tide and current report

8. Department of Labor

• Protect American workers– Minimum wage– Unemployment– Job training

9. Department of Health and Human Services

• Implements national health policy• Social Security and Medicare• Food, drug and Cosmetics laws (works with

FDA)

10. Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Public housing• Ensures equal housing• Improves roads, sewers

11. Department of Transportation

• Interstates, railroads, airports, mass transit regulation and safety standards

12. Department of Energy

• Plans energy policy– Gas and electric sales– Conservation programs

13. Department of Education

• Federal assistance programs for schools• College grants and loans• NCLB and Race to the Top

14. Department of Veteran Affairs

• Benefits, hospital care and education for veterans and their families

15. Department of Homeland Security

• Controls border patrol (immigration), Coast Guard, Disaster Relief (FEMA), Secret Service, works with FBI and CIA

Independent Agencies and Corporations

Independent Executive Agencies

• Similar to cabinet department, but without status

• Examples: NASA and CIA

Independent Regulatory Agencies

• Created by Congress, appointed by President, approved by Senate

• Quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative• Examples: FTC (trade), FCC (media), FEC

(campaigns), EPA (Environment), FDA (food and drugs), CSPC (product recalls), OHSA (health and safety at work), Federal Reserve (inflation and interest)

Government Corporations

• Government run businesses that provide services

• Examples: TVA, FDIC, USPS, AMTRACK, PBS

Regulation or Deregulation?

• Why regulate? – Lobbyists often pressure the agencies– Agencies and industries that they regulate can

develop close relationships because of the revolving door (changing from government job to lobbyist) • Ethics in Government Act 1978, Ethics Reform Act 1989

Regulation Acts

• Administrative Procedure Act 1946– Before adopting new rules, the agency must notify, hold hearings, and

request comments• Freedom of Information Act 1966

– Citizens have the right to inspect government records• National Environmental Policy 1969

– Must issue impact statement before any action involving environment • Privacy Act 1974

– Government files about people (SS and taxes) are confidential• Open Meeting Law 1976

– Agency meetings must be open to the public (except military, national security, etc.)

Impact of Regulations• Waste – slow, costs

more money• Red tape – too many

rules and procedures• Conflict – meet one

criteria, messes up another

• Duplication – lots of forms and steps

• Imperialism – act without regard to others