The InstitutionsThe Institutions
Unit IVCUnit IVC
The Federal BureaucracyThe Federal Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy A systematic and hierarchical organization in
government established to develop and implement policies and regulations in relation to enacted legislation
Principles Hierarchical Authority
Pyramid structure Job Specialization
Division of labor; specific duties and responsibilities for each individual position
Rules and Regulations Established regulations and procedures for facilitation Discretionary authority
Legislative – rule-making Executive – rule administration Judicial – rule adjudication
Development of the Federal Bureaucracy
Early Constitutional Period Small number of agencies and
positions Selection based on qualifications and
political affiliation Antebellum Period
Jackson and the spoils system Late 19th Century
Civil Service Reform Pendleton Act/Civil Service Act of
1883 Merit system, competitive exams;
limited partisan politics Established Civil Service Commission
to enforce Modern Bureaucracy
Agencies grew substantially due to New Deal programs, Great Society, Cold War, wars/conflicts
Hatch Act (1939) Limited political activities on duty,
use of position for campaigns Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Established Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Established government employee classifications and salaries, training and recruitment programs
Protection of whistleblowers
Growth of Modern Bureaucracy Power and Justification
Regulation and de-regulation Agency capture Political appointments
Evolving Government for Evolving World Technological development
(communication, transportation) Globalization and world affairs
Difficulty of Termination Numerous steps to ultimately fire
a government employee Official record of chronic
behavior, substantial evidence, public hearings, viable witnesses, right of due process, appeals
Fewer than 1/10th of 1% of federal employees have been fired for incompetence
The Plum Book
Federal Bureaucracy Organization
Executive Departments Cabinet-level executive agencies established for specific
policy areas Agency heads work at the pleasure of the President
May be impeached/removed by Congress Independent Executive Agencies
Administration, policy analysis, intelligence Agency heads work at the pleasure of the President
May report to Congress and other agencies May be impeached/removed by Congress
Independent Regulatory Agencies Agencies that regulate and police; enforcers of
legislation Function outside influence of the President Agency heads serve fixed terms and only removed for
just cause Government Corporations
Business-like agencies usually providing goods and services
The Executive Departments State
Treasury United States Mint/Bureau of
Engraving and Printing Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Defense (“The Pentagon”) National Security Agency (NSA) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Justice Federal Bureau of Investigations
(FBI) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) U.S. Marshals Service Office of the Solicitor General
Interior National Park Service Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agriculture (USDA) Commerce
Bureau of the Census National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of the Surgeon General Medicare
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Transportation (DOT)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration Education
Federal Student Aid Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Customs and Border Protection United States Secret Service Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Independent Executive Agencies
Small Business Administration (SBA) Promote small businesses and economic recovery
Social Security Administration (SSA) Social security checks and applications
National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Foreign policy information; espionage
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Selective Service System (SSS) National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) Peace Corps The Smithsonian Institution
Independent Regulatory Agencies
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Prevent monopolies; consumer protection
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Securities, stocks, bonds, commodity trading
Federal Reserve Monetary policy
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Federal Elections Commission (FEC) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
Government Corporations
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(AMTRAK) United States Postal Service (USPS) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) National Public Radio (NPR)
Government Enterprises Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie
Mae) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(Freddie Mac)
Bureaucrats as Policymakers Iron Triangles
Bureaucratic AgencyBureaucratic Agency Receive increased power Receive increased power
and appropriationsand appropriations Congressional CommitteeCongressional Committee
Receive electoral support Receive electoral support and campaign contributionsand campaign contributions
Interest GroupsInterest Groups Interests satisfiedInterests satisfied
Designed for mutual benefitDesigned for mutual benefit Issue Networks
Congressional StaffCongressional Staff Experts/ProfessorsExperts/Professors Interest GroupsInterest Groups Mass MediaMass Media Designed for the benefit of
public interest
Controlling the Bureaucrats Congress
Authorization Permitting funds by related
committees Appropriations
Reallocation of federal funding Oversight
Supervision and investigations by committees
Subpoena agencies for public committee hearings and testify under oath
Legislative Authority Pass laws to limit or terminate an
agency Sunset laws
The President Appointments
Change department/agency heads for a supportive or efficient leader
Executive Orders President invokes preferences
through legal means Office of Management and Budget
Change agency budget; require increased supervision
Reorganization
Supreme Court Rule a policy/law/executive
action unconstitutional The Media
Watchdog Investigative journalism Freedom of Information
Act The People
Freedom of Information Act
Sunshine Laws Interest groups
Bureaucratic Issues/Problems Red Tape
Complex rules and procedures to accomplish tasks “Make sure the government is being equal and just.” ‘Too much paperwork. Slows down process. Frustrating for constituents.’
Conflict Rivalries between agencies on similar policies ‘Sometimes the goal/objective is overlooked by competition.’
Duplication Agencies performing same or similar tasks “Congress doesn’t know what it’s doing, but they made the laws so we
follow them.”
Imperialism Increase of agency’s power and influence no matter the cost “We interpreted the vague law as best we could and developed our
policies in accordance. Tell Congress to write clearer laws.”
Waste Inefficient use of funding and manpower; spending too much “Why lower costs? We’re the government. There’s plenty.” ‘Lining the pockets of bureaucrats and lobbyists.’