Chapter 15 Focus Lesson
"The Federal Bureaucracy"
AP Course Description
I.
II.
Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the
Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts
A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power
B. Relationships among these four institutions, and varying balances of
power
C.
Linkages between institutions and the following:
1. Public opinion and voters
2. Interest groups
3. Political parties
4. The media
5. Subnational governments
Public Policy
A. Policy making in a federal system
B. The formation of policy agendas
C.
The role of institutions in the enactment of policy
D.
The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation and
interpretation
E. Linkages between policy processes and the following:
1. Political institutions and federalism
2. Political parties
3. Interest groups
4. Public opinion
5. Elections
6. Policy networks
Key Components
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Instructor's Manual: pp. 295–317
Study Guide: pp. 280–301
Test Bank: pp. 501–534
Key Web Sites
Given the changing nature of the Internet, you may wish to preview these sites.
Always check the Online Companion Web site for updated Web references.
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U.S. Government Manual - providing information on the government's
organization
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National Archives and Records Administration: Office of the Federal Register providing information on U.S. laws and regulations
The Cabinet
Federal Agencies and Commissions - budget analysis and data
Key Words and Terms
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patronage
Pendleton Civil Service Act
civil service
Hatch Act
Office of Personnel Management
bureaucracy
merit principle
deregulation
GS (General Schedule) rating
street-level bureaucrats
regulation
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iron-triangles
Senior Executive Service
independent regulatory agency
independent executive agency
incentive system
policy implementation
administrative discretion
executive order
standard operating procedures
command-and-control policy
Suggested Pacing
Allow four class periods on a 45-minute traditional bell schedule or two class
sessions on a 90-minute block schedule. This chapter connects with Chapter 19.
Students should know the process of implementation but may skim the
organizational charts. If time is a problem, you could eliminate the various
theories of bureaucratic organization (pp. 495–497, 511–513) because they are
not covered in the AP course outline.
Test Strategy
Reviewing recent exams can be helpful in determining the topics that the test
writers choose. Among recent subjects for essays have been: the balance of
power at the federal level, iron-triangles or subgovernments, implementation of
public policy by the federal bureaucracy, and how interest groups use lobbying to
accomplish their policy agendas.
Key Concepts
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Patronage
Patronage refers to a way of rewarding party loyalty by granting favors or
appointing persons to government jobs. The merit system determines who is best
qualified for a job based on education, experience, and examination scores. Both
patronage and the merit system methods are used today, but merit workers have
job protection through civil service laws. The "plum book" lists the federal jobs
available for direct presidential appointment, often with Senate confirmation.
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Iron-triangles or subgovernments
Iron-triangles or subgovernments illustrate the interrelationships that exist among
bureaucratic agencies, Congressional committees, and interest groups. They are
characterized by mutual dependency in which each element provides key
services, information, or policy (Fig.15.5). Students should look carefully at irontriangles and issue networks to understand the interrelationships among the
groups and should note the mutual dependency of each point of the iron-triangle.
Summing Up Student Understanding
Debate the value of a professional bureaucracy. Students should compare the
costs and benefits of the patronage system with those of the merit system in
terms of responsibility and responsiveness to the people whom the bureaucrats
serve. Some points to consider are the following:
Pro:
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The expertise and experience of the majority of employees are retained
from election to election.
The continuity of work is preserved.
Con:
The basis is political favor not experience.
A person stays on the job only as long as the elected official is in office or
continues to favor the person.
Handpicking employees guarantees loyalty for the elected official and
support for that official's policies.