CH 15, pp. 414 to 440

The Government at Work: The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

• A large complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization.

• Bureaucrat • person who works for a government

organization– Part of an hierarchical authority– Specialized job– Formalized rules

Administration• the government’s many managers and agencies.• Departments are reserved for cabinet level agencies, other

agencies fall with in the independent agency category.• Staff agencies

– Serve in a support capacity and aid the chief executive and other administrator by offering advice and other assistance in the management of an organization.

• Line agencies– They perform the tasks for which the organization exists. – Congress and the President sets goals for the organization to meet.

• EPA

Executive Office of the President

• EOP• several separate agencies • Staffed by most of the president’s closest

advisors and assistants• Established by Congress in 1939• an “umbrella agency”

White House Office

• The West wing houses most of the president’s staff.

• The White House Chief of Staff directs all operations in the White House.– They are one of the President’s most trusted

aides.– The White House press secretary also works in the

West Wing and is the chief spokesman for the president.

Office of Management and Budget

• Federal Budget– A detailed estimate of receipts and expenditures, an anticipation of

federal income during the next fiscal year.• How is the federal budget prepared?• Each federal agency prepares estimates of what they will need

to spend.• OMB reviews them

– Hears arguments for/against these requests• Revised estimates are produced and incorporated into a final

budget• Final budget is sent to Congress

Fiscal year

• 12-month period used by government for financial purposes. – record keeping, – budgeting, – other financial management

• Federal fiscal calendar is from October 1 to September 30.– California fiscal calendar is from July 1 to June 30.

Office of Policy Development

• Advises the chief executive on all matters relating to the nation’s domestic affairs.– All matters not directly connected to the realm of

foreign affairs.

Executive Departments• The traditional units of the federal administration, and each are built around a

broad field of activity. These departments are often called the Cabinet Departments.– State– Treasury– Defense– Justice– Interior– Agriculture– Commerce– Labor– Health and human services– Housing and Urban Development– Transportation– Energy– Education– Veterans Affairs – Homeland Security

Secretary

• the head of a government department• Only the Department of Justice has a different

title for its head– Attorney General

The Cabinet

• Congress established four cabinet posts in 1789.– State – Treasury– War– Justice

• Over the years the scope of the Federal Government has grown and we now have 15 cabinet position.– Department of Homeland Security is the most recent

Cabinet position (2002).• The president appoints members the Cabinet, with

Senate confirmation.

p 417

• According to this chart, which branch makes up the largest share of the federal bureaucracy?

• The executive branch

p 420

• Why do you think the Cabinet Room is so close to the Oval Office?

• Presidents and their Cabinets usually work closely together.

p 425

• Why do only ten percent of federal employees work in the Washington, D.C., area?

• The majority of federal employees work in various governmental offices throughout the United State and abroad.

p 426

• What three Cabinet departments are the most important? Why? – State– Justice– Defense

p 429

• Does the cartoon share this criticism? Do you agree?

• Yes

Quick Write

• Do you feel that the purpose of the Government Bureaucracy is effective or ineffective? Explain.

Independent agencies• added after the 1880s due to the growing duties,

services, responsibilities, of the United States government.

• Numbering some 150.– National Aeronautics and Space Administration– Social Security Administration– Government Services Administration– Office of Personnel Management– Federal Election Commission– Civil Rights Commission– Environmental Protection Agency– Securities and Exchange Commission

Independent executive agencies

• serve the president, but are not quite as empowered as the Cabinet departments.

• includes most of the independent agencies– Most perform administrative or policy services

• GSA• NASA• EPA

– Some have other roles:• Civil Rights Commission• Peace Corps• Federal Election Commission• National Transportation and Safety Board

Independent regulatory commissions

• set up to be beyond the control or bias of the president.

• Supervise economic aspects of the nation– Regulate– Police

• Commission appointed by the president with Senate consent– U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Quasi-legislative

• an agency has powers similar to the Congress– Make rules and regulations– Force of law– Interpret enforcement of Congressional laws

• Securities and Exchange Commission

Quasi-judicial

• an agency has powers similar to the courts– Hear complaints– Judge merits of case– Decide corrections, punishments, fines

• Can be appealed in federal courts.• FAA• U.S. Patent and Trademark office

Government corporation

• set up by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities

• Within the executive branch• Under president’s direction and control• Set up to raise their own operating funds:– AMTRAK– US Postal Service– Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation– Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation– Tennessee Valley Authority

Civil service• those employees, not military, who perform the

administrative work of the government• President appoints highest ranks• Most employees apply for civil service as they would

any other job– Must pass civil service exam– Must be qualified.

• When advertising for a position the organization will keep a register of those that have applied.– A list of those applicants that are qualified and who have

passed the test.

Spoils system

• the American practice of giving offices and other favors of the government to political supporters and friends of the candidate who wins office.

• Patronage• giving jobs to supporters and friends• Much of it was eliminated with civil service laws for

government employees.• It is still a major part of non-employee, non-elected

government posts.

Patronage

• What two nations were the ambassadors approved for in the Senate?

• Why were they most likely selected by the Obama administration to be ambassadors?

• Are they qualified to be ambassadors? Explain.• Who is the White House Press Secretary in the clip?• Why does Jon Stewart call the White House Press

Secretary “Washington’s worst job?”• EC (2) Who was the previous White House Press

Secretary?

p 431

• What aspects of serving in the Peace Corps would provide useful background for a Cabinet post or other federal job?

• Such a background would provide not only specific job experience but experience with American foreign policy.

p 432

• How do the functions listed above show that these commissions have legislative and judicial powers?

• They have the power to make rules and regulations with the force of law, they also settle legal disputes.

p 433

• Why might the government have decided, under regulation, to require airlines to serve certain cities?

• The government might have wished to provide services to an isolated part of the country in order to serve the citizens and stimulate the economy.

p 434

• What advantages might Amtrak enjoy as a government corporation?

• It can rely on public funds and does not face stiff competition as a private corporation might.

p 438

• How does the cartoon illustrate this practice?

• Jackson is riding on a pig, which represents the spoils system.

p 439

• Why might the civil service have a higher proportion of college graduates than the country as a whole?

• Civil servants are expected to be well-qualified; entrance into civil service is competitive, meaning that those with higher qualifications are more likely to be accepted.

Quick Write

• How can the spoils system hurt the way our government runs?