American Government
Chapter 15 Notes
Government at Work: The
Bureaucracy
Section 1

The Federal Bureaucracy
What is a Bureaucracy
A large, complex administrative structure that
handles the everyday business of an
organization

It is an efficient and an effective way to organize
people to do work… most of the time
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Three Features of a Bureaucracy
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Hierarchical authority
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Job Specialization
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Chain of command
Each Bureaucrat has a certain defined duty and
responsibility
Formalized Rules
The Benefits of a Bureaucracy
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
Generally the most effective way to work together
on a large and complex task
Major Elements of the Federal
Bureaucracy
All the agencies, people, and
procedures through which the
Federal Government operates
Not spelled out specifically in the U.S.
Constitution
Must have an effective administration
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The government’s many administrators
and agencies
The Name Game
Sometimes names refer to level of
importance that the unit of the
Executive branch has
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However, there is little standardized use
of titles
Staff and Line Agencies
The several units that make up any
administrative organization can be
classified as either staff or line agencies
Staff agencies

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
They aid the chief executive and other
administrators by offering advice and other
assistance in the management of the
organization
Line agencies


Actually perform the tasks for which
organizations exists
Section 2

The Executive Office of the President
The Executive Office of the
President (EOP)

Is an umbrella agency, including all
the separate agencies with the job of
helping the President enforce the
laws
The White House Office
The “nerve center” of the Executive
Office is the White House Office
Most of the work is done in the
Historic West Wing



Chief of Staff to the President directs all
of the operations of the White House
Office

Including Press Secretary, The counsel, and
the President’s physician
The National Security Council


Most foreign policy issues are taken care of
by the National Security Council (NSC)

Includes Vice President, secretaries of state and
defense, Head of CIA and chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff
Office of Homeland Security


Newest EOP, created in response to
September 11

Work to protect this country against any and all
acts of terrorism
Other EOP Agencies
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
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2nd most influential unit in the EOP
Main task is preparation of the federal budget

A very detailed estimate of receipts and expenditures,
an anticipation of federal income and outgo, during the
next fiscal year

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Fiscal year is the 12-month period used by government and
business for record keeping
Lasts from October 1 through September 30
Expression of public policy in money terms

Manages much of the actions of other agencies, to
verify that they are spending according to the
President’s policy positions
Other EOP Agencies (Con’t)
Office of Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Council of Economic Advisers

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Gives the President advice on the state of the U.S.
economy

Other Units in the EOP

Includes agencies that take care of the domestic
affairs

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All matters not directly connected to the realm of foreign
affairs
Section 3

The Executive Departments
Executive Departments
Often called the Cabinet departments, they are
the traditional units of federal administration,
and each of them is built around some broad
field of activity
Chief Officers and Staff

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Each department is headed by a secretary
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Except Department of Justice

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An official in charge of a department of government
Directed by the Attorney General
These positions must be approved by the Senate
Executive Departments (Con’t)
Subunits

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Allow the department to meet different
specific needs
The Departments Today
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Department of State is the oldest and
most prestigious
Department of Defense is the largest
There is a total of 15 Departments

Including Department of Labor
The Cabinet
An informal advisory body brought together by
the President to serve their needs
The Cabinet is generally formed by the 15
Executive Departments

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Appointees to the Departments must be approved
by the Senate

Women and Minorities

Has gradually played a greater role in the Cabinet,
since FDR

The Cabinet’s Role

Mainly to be advisers to the President, however it is
not called for in the Constitution
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A tradition President’s have carried on