The Federal Bureaucracy

The Structure of the American GovernmentBureaucratic Politics

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelCabinet Level DepartmentsDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of EducationDepartment of EnergyDepartment of TransportationDepartment of Veterans AffairsDepartment of CommerceDepartment of the InteriorDepartment of Homeland Security

Department of DefenseDepartment of LaborDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of JusticeDepartment of Housing and Urban DevelopmentDepartment of the TreasuryDepartment of the State

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelCharacteristics:Each department is headed by a SecretaryEach department is responsible for a policy area that is designated by Congress.Jurisdiction the area of programmatic responsibility assigned to an agency by the legislature or chief executive.Each department is made up of smaller units:Bureau, office, administration, and service.Level of Control:Holding company vs. strong controlWhy?Many agencies were created before the creation of the Department and therefore are used to a certain level of autonomy.Department of Homeland Security:U.S. Customs Service (Treasury)INS (Justice)FEMA (General Services Administration) TSA (DOT)U.S. Coast Guard (DOT)

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelReasons Cabinet Departments are Created:Growth in Government Responsibility and PopulationDepartment of JusticeCreated in response to growing needs of the government.Grew under Reagans war on drugs.Clientele/Interest Group DemandsDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of CommerceDepartment of LaborDepartment of EducationDepartment of Veterans AffairsPolicy Priorities and Increased Need for Technical KnowledgeDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of TransportationDepartment of EnergyDepartment of Homeland Security

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelIndependent AgenciesIndependent of any cabinet level agencyReport directly to the president or Congress.Types:Independent AgenciesIndependent Regulatory Agencies

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelIndependent AgenciesExamples:EPA, NASA, CIA, MSPB, OPMLeadership:SingularAppointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.The heads are not members of the cabinet.Characteristics:Cover a narrower policy area than departments.They are independent because they do not fit neatly into the policy focus of a departmentExample: NASAIndependent of clientele pressureAgencies vary in size

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelIndependent Regulatory Boards and CommissionsExamples: FCC, NLRB, SEC, FTC, ICC, CABCharacteristics:Administrative unit with the responsibility for monitoring and regulating a specific type of economic activity.Created in order to avoid presidential control. Leadership:Plural5 9 member commissions/boards (party split)Bare majority ruleAll appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.Leaders cannot be removed by the president.Serve fixed terms that are longer than that of the president.

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelGovernment CorporationsExamples:United States Postal ServiceAmtrakFederal Deposit Insurance CorporationCorporation for Public BroadcastingFederal Reserve SystemCharacteristics:Headed by boards or commissions (board of directors).Bipartisan membership Long terms of officeFederal Reserve = 14 years (seven member board)Some intended to make a profit some do not have this intention.Unlike other agencies, government corporations can:Acquire, develop and dispose of real estate while acting in their own names.They can bring suit in a court of law and are legally liable to be sued in their own name.

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelThe Political Agencies of the President and CongressThe Presidential BureaucracyCongressional Bureaucracy

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelThe Presidential Bureaucracy:Largely organized around the Executive Office of the President (EOP)Headed by the White House Chief of StaffContains:White House OfficeOffice of the Vice PresidentOffice of Management and BudgetCouncil of Economic AdvisorsNational Security CouncilOther small bodies that advise the president on specific policy areas:Office of National Drug Control PolicyCouncil on Environmental QualityOffice of the United States Trade RepresentativeClose the information gapDetailing

Types of Bureaucratic Organizations at the Federal LevelThe Congressional Bureaucracy:More complex than the presidential bureaucracyDue to the fact that staff cannot handle the entire workload of Congress, support agencies were developed to assist Congress.Library of CongressCongressional Research Service (CRS)Congressional Budget Office (CBO)Government Accountability Office (GAO)Government Printing Office (GPO)

The Politics of Structure and DesignMoe, Terry. 1989. The Politics of Bureaucratic Structure in Can the Government Govern? Ed. John E. Chubb and Paul E. Peterson. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution.What is Moes main point?Why do structural choices matter?What general groups does Moe examine as a means for demonstrating how their interests shape structural choices?Interest groupsWhat do interest groups want?Does one interest group really control structural design?LegislatorsWhat is the goal of legislators?Why is this important?Does this mean that they do not have any interests of their own?PresidentsWhat motivates the president?What do they favor then?What agencies does Moe look at to examine his theory?CPSCOSHAEPAWhat does he conclude?They are all examples of the politics surrounding structural design