Chp.7 The Executive Branch

The executive branch relies on a large federal bureaucracy to carry out its work and raise revenue.

Sec. 1: The Federal Bureaucracy

The federal bureaucracy includes all the organizations and agencies of the executive branch. The civil service system is used to place qualified civilians into positions of the federal bureaucracy.

Do NowWhat are some of the agencies that work for the Executive branch and what do they do?

Learning GoalsObjectives Essential Question

▪What are the functions of executive departments and independent agencies?

▪ Learn what the federal bureaucracy is.

▪ Learn what the civil service is and how its changed over the years.

I. What is the Federal Bureaucracy?

A.Bureaucracyi. Any organization having the

following features:a)Clear formal structureb)Division of laborc)Set of rules & procedures by

which it operates.

B.Bureaucratsi. Administrators & skilled,

expert workers who carry out tasks of the fed. Bureaucracy.

II. The Civil Service

A. Civil Servicei. Civilians who carry out the work

of the fed. Gov’t.

B. The Spoils Systemi. Gov’t. jobs given out as political

rewards for supporting the Prez.ii. “To the victors go the spoils.”iii. Inexperienced & inefficient

C. The Civil Service Todayi. Pendleton Civil Service Actii. 90% of jobs are based on merit through

standardized examinations.

Exit Slip

1. Critics of the _______________________ believed it hindered the government from doing its job and led to corruption.

2. The departments, agencies, and organizations of the executive branch are collectively known as the federal _______________________.

3. Any nonmilitary worker is a member of the _______________________.

4. How are civil service employees chosen today?

5. Who carries the responsibility of implementing legislation and executive orders?

Sec. 2: Executive Dept. & Independent Agencies

Executive departments and independent agencies provide key services and regulate important industries for the American people.

Do Now

What are some government agencies that you have heard of? What do those agencies do?

Learning GoalsObjectives

▪ Purpose of executive departments.

▪ Primary functions of executive departments today

▪ List independent agencies.

▪ Issues regarding power & accountability in the federal bureaucracy.

Essential Question

▪What explains the growth in the number of executive departments that occurred in the 1900s?

I. Executive Departments

A. Early Departmentsi. As needs arise new departments are madeii. Ex. Dept. of Interior, Dept. Labor

B. Departments since 1950i. Increase of Fed Gov’t. power = New Departmentsii. Housing & Urban Development, Energy

C. Departments Todayi. Health & Human Services

a. Protect Americans’ health, 65,000 employeesii. Department of Defense

a. Protects the nation, Over 3 million employeesiii. Homeland Security

a. Newest, (Police, borders, emergency agencies, transportation, etc.)

II. Independent Agencies

A. 140 gov’t. agencies that operate separately from the executive departments.

B. Independent Executive Agenciesi. Oversee & manage a specific aspect of fed. Gov’t.

(NASA, Peace Corps)

C. Independent Regulatory Commissionsi. Regulate some aspect of the economyii. Bipartisan: Includes members from both major

political partiesa. SEC: Securities & Exchange Commission watches

stocks

D. Government Corporationsi. Organized & run like businesses but are owned in

whole or in part by the fed. gov’t.

E. Iron Triangle: Bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups work together for benefits

Creating an Executive Department

▪Small groups of 3 or 4.

▪ Think of ideas for a new executive department (Not something already being done)

▪Draft a formal statement stating the purpose & function of the department–Persuade, compromise, negotiate conflicts or differences w/in your group

▪ Present your proposal to the class (Can make flyers or pictures)

Sec. 3: Financing Government

By collecting taxes and borrowing money, the fed. gov’t. is able to generate the funds it needs to run the nation. The gov’t. then assigns these funds to create a federal budget for the upcoming year.

Do NowHow would you allocate the nation’s money if you were in charge of the budget? You can use percentages.

Learning GoalsObjectives

▪ Ways the federal government pays for its operations.

▪ Describe the two types of government spending.

▪ Explain how the federal budget process works.

▪ Understand how fiscal & monetary policy affect the nation’s economy.

Essential Question

▪What are the main goals of the federal government’s fiscal policy and monetary policy?

I. Paying for GovernmentA. Income Taxes: Tax on a person’s or business’

income.i. Progressive Tax: Rate increases as amount taxable

increases.

B. Payroll Taxes: Money withheld from a person’s paycheck

i. Regressive Tax: Tax applied only up to a certain amount .ii. Proportional Tax: Tax applied at same rate to all

incomes.

C. Other Sources of Revenuei. Tariffs, estate tax, gift tax, Loan interest

D. Borrowing Moneyi. Bond: Borrower pays back money at a certain time +

interestii. Federal Debt: Money gov’t. borrowed and not yet repaid.

II. Government Spending

A. Mandatory Spendingi. Required by laws & not subject to the annual budget

process.ii. Ex. Social Security

B. Discretionary Spendingi. Subject to the annual budget processii. Ex. Defense, Education, Aid

C. The Budget Processi. President’s Budget

i. President proposes budget reflecting their priorities.ii. Budget shows how spending & revenue will be effected

in the futureii. Budget in Congress

i. President gives budget to Congress and Congressional Budget Office

ii. Agree on amount and then argue how best to spend it.

III. Fiscal & Monetary Policy

A. Fiscal Policy: Creating the fed. Budget & tax laws.

i. Provide funds for gov’t w/out hurting economy

ii. 3 Options: Spend more money or Cut Taxes or Spend & Cut

B. Monetary Policy: Alters money in circulation & interest rates for borrowed money.

i. Selling bonds reduces money in circulationii. Buying back bonds puts money into systemiii. Raising interest rates reduces money in

circulationiv. Requires bank to have more money in

reserve reduces money in circulation

Exit Slip

1. A tax on a person’s or corporation’s income

2. A tax whose rates increase as the amount that is subject to taxation increases

3. Money that is withheld from a person’s paycheck by his or her employer

4. Tax that has greater impact on lower income earners than on upper-income earners

5. A financial instrument by which a borrower agrees to repay borrowed money, plus interest, at a future date

6. Actions and decisions made by Congress and the president to create the federal budget and tax laws

7. Actions and decisions made by the government that change the amount of money in circulation and the interest rates at which money is borrowed