CHAPTER 8
The Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objectives
 Describe the bureaucracy as part of the
executive branch of government organized
hierarchically with standard operating
procedures for doing business
 Assess the critical role that the bureaucracy
plays in the implementation of federal policy
2
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
Learning Objectives
 Define “delegated authority” and apply the
conditions under which such authority is
granted
 Distinguish the oversight function of
Congress over the bureaucracy
 Evaluate why Congress has provided some
bureaucratic units with administrative
judicatory authority
3
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
Learning Objectives
 Describe how the federal bureaucracy has
evolved over time, including substantial
growth spurts as a result of the New Deal and
Great Society programs and the Cold War
 Explain methods for attempting to control or
reduce the size and scope of the federal
bureaucracy through privatization, devolution,
deregulation, and accountability
4
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
Learning Objectives
 Distinguish between the different types of
agencies in the federal bureaucracy
 Describe the large scope of the federal
workforce and the civil service rules
governing federal employment
5
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What is Bureaucracy?
 Bureaucracy
 Organization set up in a logical and rational manner
 Purpose: accomplish specific functions
 Most likely to come into direct contact with
bureaucracy than any other part of
government
6
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What is Bureaucracy?
 Weber’s Six Characteristics of Effective
Bureaucracies
 Organized based on specialization, expertise, and
division of labor
 Hierarchical—chain of command
 Standard operating procedures
 Good record keeping—paper trail
 Air of professionalism
 Merit-based hiring and promotions
7
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What does the Federal
Bureaucracy Do?
 Most is contained within the executive branch
 Executive power: to carry out, administer, and
enforce specific laws
 Primarily a presidential responsibility
8
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What does the Federal
Bureaucracy Do?
 Policy Implementation
 Process of carrying out a law
 Requires translating the legislation into action
 Begin by developing regulations
 Rules guiding the carrying out of the
program/service
 Published in the Federal Register
9
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What does the Federal
Bureaucracy Do?
 Bureaucratic Legislation
 Administrative discretion
 Delegated congressional power
 Administrative Law
10
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What does the Federal
Bureaucracy Do?
 Congressional Oversight
 Congress’ monitoring of bureaucratic agencies
 If not satisfied with an agency’s performance
Congress can
 Conduct investigations
 Reduce or eliminate the budget
 Refuse to confirm appointments
 Eliminate the agency, or establish a new agency
and shift resources and powers to it
11
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
What does the Federal
Bureaucracy Do?
 Bureaucratic Adjudication
 Determining the rights and duties of particular
parties within the scope of an agency’s rules
12
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Development of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Washington’s presidency had three
departments
 Department of State
 Department of Treasury
 Department of War
13
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Development of the
Federal Bureaucracy






14
Mid-1800s: Department of the Interior
1862: Department of Agriculture
1870: Department of Justice
1884: Bureau of Labor
1888: Commerce Agency
Early 1900s: Elevated to Cabinet status
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Development of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Events affecting growth of bureaucracy
 FDR’s New Deal
 Johnson’s Great Society program of the 1960s
 Cold War
15
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
Getting Control of the
Growing Bureaucracy
 Privatization
 Replacing government-provided services with those
provided by the private sector
 Deregulation
 Eliminating government oversight and regulation
 Devolution
 Shifting responsibility and power back to the states
 “Reinventing Government”
 Improved effectiveness and efficiency
16
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Organization of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Cabinet
Departments
 Major administrative
organizations of
executive branch
 Headed by a
secretary except for
Justice Department
17
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Cabinet Departments
18
Department of State
Department of Labor
Department of Treasury
Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Department of Defense
Department of Transportation
Department of Justice
Department of Education
Department of the Interior
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Agriculture
Department of Energy
Department of Commerce
Department of Health and
Human Services
Department of Homeland
Security
Copyright © 2014
Cengage Learning
The Organization of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 The Department of Homeland Security
 Created after September 11, 2001, attacks
 Reorganized 22 existing federal agencies into one
cabinet department
 Protect nation against threats
19
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Organization of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Independent Agencies
 Not part of any
executive cabinet
department
 Report directly to
president
 Narrower focus
20
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Organization of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Regulatory Agencies
 Implement rules regarding conduct related to the
economy
 Not under direct control of the president
 Created by Congress
 Run by independent boards/commissions
21
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Organization of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Regulatory Agencies
 The Federal Trade Commission(FTC)
 The Federal Communications Commission(FCC)
 The Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC)
 The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission(EEOC)
 The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)
 The Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC)
22
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Organization of the
Federal Bureaucracy
 Government Corporations
 Small units that run like private companies
 Serve a public purpose
 The Executive Office of the President
 Staff that reports directly to the president
 Managed by White House Chief of Staff
23
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Federal Workforce
 2.8 million civilian personnel
 1.6 million U.S. military personnel
 Largest employer in U.S.
24
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
Change in Number of Federal
Workers, Civilian and Military
25
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Federal Workforce
 Political Appointees and Career Professionals
 Presidential appointees
 Some require Senate confirmation
 Senior Executive Service(SES)
26
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
The Federal Workforce
 The Civil Service
 Majority of federal workforce
 President Jackson’s massive restructuring
 Spoils system
 Patronage
 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
 Merit system
 Hatch Act of 1939
 Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
27
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning