An easy way to remember the bureaucracy
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All of the component pieces to the Cabinet
Departments and Independent Agencies of
the Federal Government (All branches).
For a listing of all Federal Government
Components, please go here:
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Ag
encies/index.shtml
A similar structure exists at the State Level.
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Just those component agencies of the
President’s Cabinet…
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It is made up of many parts…
◦ Departments and their component pieces
◦ Independent Executive Agencies
◦ Government corporations
◦ This is where we begin the ABCD’S (and other
letters) of Government
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Agencies, such as the CIA and EPA
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Administrations, such as the General Services
Administration and NASA
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Authorities, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority
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Boards, such as the National Transportation
Safety Board and the Railroad Retirement
Board.
Bureaus such as the FBI and the Bureau of
Indian Affairs
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Commissions, like the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Federal Communications
Commission, or the Federal Elections
Commission
Corporations, like the FDIC and Amtrak (National
Railroad Passenger Corporation)
Committees, such as the Federal Geographic
Data Committee
Councils, such as the Council of Economic
Advisors
Centers: ex: CDC
Combatant Commands: ex: NorthCOM,
USAFRICOM, CENTCOM, PACCOM, etc.
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Departments, like the Cabinet Departments,
or the components of the Department of
Defense
Divisions
Directorates – ex: Director of National
Intelligence
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Systems – example: The Selective Service
System
Services – the Public Health Service, the
National Park Service, etc.
◦ If it’s a Service, its personnel most likely wear a
uniform.
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Institutes or Institutions, such as the National
Institutes of Health or the Smithsonian
Institution
Offices, like the Office of National Drug
Control Policy
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OTUS: of the United States
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POTUS: President of the United States
VPOTUS: Vice President of the United States
FLOTUS: First Lady of the United States
SCOTUS: Supreme Court of the United States
COM: Command (normally used in the military)
(Joint Service Combatant Command)
Ex: CENTCOM, PACCOM, USAFRICOM, SOUTHCOM,
TRANSCOM
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AG vs. Ag.
◦ Attorney General vs. Agriculture
DHS vs. DHHS
Department of Homeland Security vs. Department
of Health and Human Services
SEC vs. FEC vs. FCC vs. ICC
Securities and Exchange Commission
Federal Elections Commission
Federal Communications
Interstate Commerce Commission
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Comm.
Cmte.
COM
Cmdr.
Comm’r.
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There are those that are just funny…
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Like the White House Military Office (WHMO)
◦ Pronounced “Whammo.”
There are also those that just make sense, too!
SecDef, SecState, etc.
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Can you name the 8 uniformed services?
◦ I know you can name at least 5!!
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Ranks and pay grades are abbreviated
Unit structures are abbreviated
Operational units are abbreviated
Classifications of equipment are abbreviated
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Name these agencies
Agency: NARA
Hint: Keeper of the Records
Bureau: BPE
Hint: Dollar Bills
Department: DOC
Hint: Trade
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Place: WH, HOB, FCI,
Combatant Commander: CINCPAC, SACEURCOM
Office (generalized to all Cabinet Dept.): OIG
Uniformed Service: USPHS
Administration (the weather people): NOAA
Place (military, generalized): NAS, AFB, FOB
Bureau: ATF, BJS, BLM
Cabinet Department: DOL, DOJ, DOE, USDA, DOT
Person: SecEd, SecAF, SecTrans
Geographic Regions: NCR and CONUS
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USPS (Independent Government Corporation)
USMS (there are two) (One law enforcement,
one uniformed service)
USSS (law enforcement)
CBP (law enforcement)
ICE (law enforcement)
FSIS (formerly in Ag., now DHS)
USS vs. USNS
USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA
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See…the bureaucracy can be fun!!