Chapter 10The Federal Bureaucracy
Chapter 10Section 1
Bureaucratic Organization
The federal bureaucracy is organized into departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and advisory committees.
The Founders anticipated (in Article II of the Constitution) the need for creating federal agencies that would carry on the day-to-day business of government.
Organization
The 15 executive departments, headed by cabinet-rank officers, are a major part of the federal bureaucracy.
These departments are headed by secretaries and staffed with assistant secretaries, deputy secretaries, and directors of major units.
The Cabinet Departments
The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury were created by Congress in 1789 and are still among the most important.◦ The Department of State is responsible for the
overall foreign policy of the United States and staffs the embassies located in foreign countries.
◦ The Department of the Treasury is responsible for managing the monetary resources of the United States. It also includes the Internal Revenue Service or IRS.
The Cabinet Departments
Department of the Interior◦ Charged with protecting public lands and natural
resources. Department of Agriculture
◦ Created to help farmers improve their incomes and expand their markets.
Department of Justice◦ Includes the FBI, US Marshals Service, and the
Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Cabinet Departments
Department of Commerce◦ Designed to promote and protect the industrial
and commercial segments of the American economy.
Department of Labor◦ Charged with protecting American workers by
ensuring safe working conditions, enforcing minimum wages, and protecting pension rights.
Department of Defense◦ Through the joint chiefs of staff- the leaders of the
Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force- it oversees the armed forces.
The Cabinet Departments
Department of Health and Human Services◦ Manages Medicare and Medicaid programs and
helps senior citizens and less fortunate Americans through the Social Security Administration.
Department of Housing and Urban Development◦ Preserves the nation's communities and ensures
Americans of equal housing opportunities. Department of Transportation
◦ Divided into separate agencies to help it regulate all aspects of American transportation needs, policy development, and planning.
The Cabinet Departments
Department of Energy◦ Plans energy policy and researches and develops
energy technology.
Department of Education◦ Coordinates federal assistance programs for
public and private schools.
The Cabinet Departments
Department of Veteran Affairs◦ Administers several hospitals as well as
educational and other programs designed to bandit veterans and their families.
Department of Homeland Security◦ Controls the Coast Guard, the Border Patrol, the
Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Customs Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and many other agencies.
The Cabinet Departments
The federal bureaucracy includes over 100 independent organizations whose heads are appointed by the president.
The services of several independent agencies, such as NASA, are widely publicized and are as large and well known as cabinet departments.
Independent Agencies
Assisting the Executive Branch◦ General Service Administration
Responsible for constructing and maintaining government buildings.
◦ Central Intelligence Agency Gathers information about what is going on is other
countries, evaluates it, and passes it on the president and other foreign-policy decision makers.
Independent Agencies
Government Corporations◦ Many major agencies are government
corporations, or businesses the federal government runs.
◦ The Executive Branch has at least 60 government corporations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures
bank account up to a certain amount so customers do not lose money if a bank fails.
The US Postal Service is a government owned entity charged with delivering mail.
Independent Agencies
Purpose of Commissions◦ Makes rules for businesses and industries that
affect the public interest.◦ Can investigate a business for breaking one the
commission’s rules.
Problems with Commissions◦ They are often under intense pressures from the
groups they regulate and their lobbyists.
Regulatory Commissions
Deregulation◦ Have become more limited in their powers
because critics have complained that they over-regulate the economy.
Cutting the Federal Workforce◦ Cost was cut in federal agencies by reducing the
number of workers in those agencies. Promoting Competition
◦ Congress passed legislation streamlining regulation of the securities industry.
Regulatory Commissions
Chapter 10Section 2
The Civil Service System
Only 11% of all federal employees work in Washington, D. C.
Many federal emplyees work in offices throughout the United States and the world.
The Civil Service System
The Spoils System◦ Spoils System: the practice of victorious
politicians rewarding their followers with government jobs
◦ Government jobs became a spoils system under President Andrew Jackson.
◦ Spoils system led to inefficiency and corruption in government.
Origins
Calls for Reform◦ Calls for reform started in the 1850s.◦ Inefficiency grew because government jobs became
more complex and required expert staff members.◦ Corruption developed as people used their jobs for
political gain. The Pendleton Act
◦ The assassination of President Garfield by a disappointed office seeker led to the Pendleton Act of 1883, establishing the present civil service system based on competitive examinations and merit.
Origins
Getting a Job◦ There is significant competition for federal jobs
with an average of 76 people applying for each job.
◦ Applicants for jobs are evaluated on the basis of their experience and training.
◦ The Office of Personal Management is responsible for filling federal jobs.
◦ Veterans are often given preference.
The Civil Service System Today
Benefits and Problems◦ Government jobs are attractive because they offer many
benefits including competitive pay, vacation time, and retirement.
◦ Government workers have job security and are difficult to fire which can sometimes assist incompetent employees.
The Hatch Act◦ The Hatch Act of 1939 was intended to prevent political
parties from using federal workers to aid in election campaigns.
◦ In recent years, critics have argued for and against this law with workers now allowed some involvement in politics.
The Civil Service System Today
Nearly 10% of executive branch employees are appointed by the president.
Many choice jobs are appointed by the president which allows for loyal supporters to be placed in key offices
These political appointees are outside civil service and are first and foremost the president’s political supporter.
Political Appointees in Government
Political appointees are not experts in the work of their agencies and when the president leaves office many of them return to private sector jobs.
Many political appointees hold their positions for short tenures making it hard to learn about their jobs.
Much of the real power over daily operations remain in the hands of career officials.
Political Appointees in Government
Chapter 10Section 3
The Bureaucracy at Work
Policy consists of all the actions taken or not taken by the government.
Federal bureaucrats carry out policy decisions made by the president and Congress.
The bureaucracy often determines what the law means through the rules and regulations it issues.
Influencing Policy
In 1995 Congress set paperwork reduction goals for future years.
Bureaucrats aid in shaping policy by helping Congress draft its new laws or by providing ideas for legislation.
Influencing Policy
Workers in federal agencies shape policy by their decisions about the application of rules and regulations and by hearing disputes.
Bureaucrats also supply advice and information to top decision makers, influencing whether an agency supports or opposes certain politics.
Influencing Policy
National Growth and Technology◦ The growth of the bureaucracy mirrors the growth
of the nation’s population and rapid changes in technology.
International Crises◦ The Cold War and international crises since World
War II spurred the growth of the bureaucracy.
Why the Bureaucracy Makes Policy
Economic Problems◦ The New Deal doubled the size of the federal
government.◦ The federal government has a special
responsibility both to stimulate the nation’s economy and to regulate unfair business practices.
Why the Bureaucracy Makes Policy
Citizen Demands◦ Citizen special-interest groups demanded various
services and programs.◦ The Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and
Labor were created to meet the increased demands of farmers, businesspeople, and workers.
The Nature of Bureaucracy◦ Once created, government agencies almost never
go away.
Why the Bureaucracy Makes Policy
Influence of Congress◦ Congress has an important influence over
bureaucrats.◦ Congress can influence decision making in federal
agencies.◦ Congress’s main power over the bureaucracy in
its control of agencies’ budgets.
Influencing Bureaucratic Decisions
Influence of the Courts◦ Citizens may challenge agencies’ actions in
courts.◦ Federal courts can issue an injunction.
Injunction: federal order that will stop a particular action or enforce a rule or regulation.
Success in Court Cases◦ Citizens have not had much success in court
cases against the bureaucracy.
Influencing Bureaucratic Decisions
Federal agencies have client groups that try to influence decisions.◦ Client Group: individual and groups who work with a
government agency and are most affected by its decisions
The close cooperation between congressional committees, client groups, and a federal agency or department is referred to as an iron triangle.◦ Iron triangles allow interest groups influence outside
the control of the executive branch.
The Influence of Client Groups
