RED TAPE
What is a Bureaucracy
 1. Hierarchical authority: makes it clear who has the
power to make decisions, thus reducing conflicts over
authority
 2. Job Specialization: Because each person has a
specific job, the work is conducted more efficiently by
people who have gained highly specialized skills
 3. Formalized rules: Decisions based on rules &
standards & not by individual likes or dislikes
Major Elements
 How does the Constitution make reference to a federal
bureaucracy ?
The President is the administrator of the Federal
Government & gives him the power to require heads of
executive departments to assist the running of the
government.
 Which two departments does the Constitution
anticipate? Foreign Affairs & Military
The “NAME GAME”
 Department: Cabinet rank ex: Department of State,
Dept. of Defense
 Agency: not of cabinet rank ex: EPA CIA
 Administration: like an agency: Social Security
Administration, Small Business Administration
NAME GAME (contd)
 Commission: Regulate business-like activities
Investigate, revise and report FCC Civil Rights
Commission
 Corporation/authority: Also business like activities
FDIC, TVA
Staff & Line Agencies
 Staff Agency: work directly w/ the President
 Line Agency: Task performing agencies
EPA, NTSB