6.4 Executive Bureaucracy
Do Now:
Are rules, processes and regulations good?
4.4 Executive Bureaucracy
The complex administrative
structure that executes the everyday
business of the government.
Executive Office
of the President
This is the group of people that work
directly with the President, advising
him on important issues and carrying
out his orders.
The Cabinet
Executive Departments
State:
“Advance freedom for the benefit of the American
people and the international community by helping
to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and
prosperous world composed of well-governed states
that respond to the needs of their people, reduce
widespread poverty, and act responsibly within the
international system.”
Secretary: John Kerry
Executive Departments
Treasury:
“Maintain a strong economy and create economic
and job opportunities by promoting the conditions
that enable economic growth and stability at home
and abroad, strengthen national security by
combating threats and protecting the integrity of the
financial system, and manage the U.S. Government’s
finances and resources effectively.”
Secretary: Jack Lew
Executive Departments
Defense:
“The mission of the Department of
Defense is to provide the military forces
needed to deter war and to protect the
security of our country.”
Secretary: Chuck Hagel
Executive Departments
Justice:
“To enforce the law and defend the interests of
the United States according to the law; to ensure
public safety against threats foreign and
domestic; to provide federal leadership in
preventing and controlling crime; to seek just
punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior;
and to ensure fair and impartial administration
of justice for all Americans.”
Secretary: Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Executive Departments
Interior:
“The U.S. Department of the Interior protects
America’s natural resources and heritage, honors
our cultures and tribal communities, and supplies
the energy to power our future.”
Secretary: Sally Jewell
Executive Departments
Agriculture:
“We provide leadership on food, agriculture,
natural resources, rural development, nutrition,
and related issues based on sound public policy,
the best available science, and efficient
management.”
Secretary: Thomas J. Vilsack
GMO A-Go-Go
This cynical (and anti-GMO) film
explores what GMO means and how
biotech companies keep it in our
food system.
Executive Departments
Commerce:
“To promote job creation, economic growth,
sustainable development and improved
standards of living for all Americans by working
in partnership with businesses, universities,
communities and our nation’s workers.”
Secretary: Rebecca Blank
Executive Departments
Labor:
“To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of
the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the
United States; improve working conditions;
advance opportunities for profitable
employment; and assure work-related benefits
and rights.”
Secretary: Seth D. Harris
Executive Departments
Health and Human Services:
“The United States government’s principal
agency for protecting the health of all Americans
and providing essential human services, especially
for those who are least able to help themselves.”
Secretary: Kathleen Sebelius
Executive Departments
Housing and Urban Development:
“To create strong, sustainable, inclusive
communities and quality affordable
homes for all.”
Secretary: Shaun L. S. Donovan
Executive Departments
Transportation:
“Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe,
efficient, accessible and convenient
transportation system that meets our vital
national interests and enhances the quality of life
of the American people, today and into the
future.”
Secretary: Ray LaHood
Executive Departments
Energy:
“Ensure America’s security and prosperity by
addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear
challenges through transformative science and
technology solutions.”
Secretary: Steven Chu
Executive Departments
Education:
“Promote student achievement and preparation
for global competitiveness by fostering
educational excellence and ensuring equal
access.”
Secretary: Arne Duncan
Executive Departments
Veteran’s Affairs:
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise “To care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his
orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women
who are America’s veterans.
Secretary: Erik K. Shinseki
Executive Departments
Homeland Security:
This department’s mission is vague and
wide ranging: “A safer, more secure
America, which is resilient against
terrorism and other potential threats.”
Secretary: Janet Napolitano
Independent Executive Agencies
•National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
•Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
•Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
•Food and Drug Administration(FDA)
•Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA)
“Drive advances in science, technology, and exploration to
enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic
vitality, and stewardship of the Earth.”
Recently NASA is shifting from an organization that handles
all aspects of space exploration to more of a regulatory and
advisory role as private interests begin to explore space
flight.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
“To protect human health and the environment.”
The EPA is often in the news as they write and
enforce environmental regulations. These are the
pollution police.
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
(OSHA)
“To ensure a safe and healthy workplace for every
working man and woman in the Nation.”
OSHA writes and enforces the regulations which
pertain to on the job safety. (shift length limits,
safety equipment, etc…)
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)
“To make available so far as possible, to all the people of the
United States, without discrimination on the basis of race,
color, religion, national origin, or sex, rapid, efficient, Nationwide, and world-wide wire and radio communication
services with adequate facilities at reasonable charges.“
The FCC regulates television, radio, wire, satellite and cable
communications.
Food and Drug
Administration(FDA)
“To protect public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and
security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products,
medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and
products that emit radiation.”
The FDA governs any processed foods, medicines and
tobacco products. They set the rules for acceptable products
and marketing.
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Federal Reserve-Regulates money supply, supervises banks
Federal Trade Com.- Anti-trust, price fixing, false adv.
Securities and Exchange Com.-Investment system
National Labor Relations Board-labor practices, unions
Federal Maritime Com.-regulates ocean transportation
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Stop the Insanity!!!
Why are there so many departments, offices and
agencies? and this is just the Executive Department!
The everyday business of the government is so large
and so complex that this insane machine of
bureaucracy has been created to regulate it.
Issues like GMO regulation require oversight.
Harvest of Fear
This documentary special from
Frontline and NOVA explores
Genetically Modified Organisms and
their impact on humanity and the
environment.
6.4 Assignment
Choose a side, either Pro or Con GMO.
Read the corresponding handout and then answer the
following questions in a three paragraph essay.
Should GMO’s be completely outlawed?
Should GMO’s be allowed for non-food products?
Who should regulate GMO’s?
Should GMO’s have to be labeled?