The Bureaucracy Reading/Discussion Guide
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Define Bureaucracy:
How does Congress have ultimate control of the bureaucracy?
Weberian Model (of bureaucracy):
Acquisitive Model:
Monopolistic Model:
Identify three administrative agencies that regulate private companies.
Do you think it is a good idea to have administrative agencies, like the ones in question
six, to regulate private companies? Why or Why not?
8. Examine Figure 13-1 on page 428. Which federal agency has the largest number of
employees? Which one has the fewest?
9. Examine Figure 13-1 on page 428. All of the departments in blue together comprise the
largest employer in the federal bureaucracy. To what entity do all these departments
belong?
10. Examine Figure 13-2 on page 428. Which level of government has the largest number of
employees? Which one has the fewest?
11. What percentage of all civilian employment is accounted for by the government?
12. Government spending accounts for what percentage of the U.S. gross national product?
13. We know that the executive department employs most of the government’s staff.
Identify the four major types of structures that employ this huge number of people.
14. What are the major service organizations of the federal government that perform
services for our country and its citizens?
15. The above organizations are known as line organizations. Define “line organizations”.
16. What entity in our federal government has the power to create or abolish cabinet
departments?
17. What is the only cabinet department NOT headed by a secretary, and what is the head
of this department called?
18. Independent Executive Agency:
19. What are the principal functions of the following independent executive agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)?
20. What are the principal functions of the following independent regulatory agencies:
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC)?
21. Independent regulatory agencies such as the ICC, FCC, and NRC are administered
independently of all three branches of government, and yet these regulatory
commissions combine functions of all three branches of government. EXPLAIN how they
do this.
22. Even though regulatory agencies do not report to the president, presidents can
influence their behavior by appointing members of the agencies that belong to his own
party. How did George W. Bush influence the FCC?
23. Examine chart 13-4 on “Selected Independent Regulatory Agencies” on page 435. What
are the functions of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors (usually called “the
Fed”), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC)?
24. Define Government Corporation:
25. It sounds bizarre or contradictory that a government agency is called a corporation, but
they are called this because they are dealing with some sort of business enterprise such
as the postal service. Both private corporations and government corporations have a
board of directors, but how are private corporations and government corporations
different?
26. Examine table 13-5 “Selected Government Corporations” on page 13-5. Which is the
largest government corporation?
27. Examine table 13-5 “Selected Government Corporations” on page 13-5. What are the
principal functions of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC)…we will update the money amount for the FDIC in a class
discussion?
28. Define the Spoils System started under President Andrew Jackson (here’s our Tennessee
connection).
29. Because of the corruption that occurred under Jackson’s “spoils system”, the Pendleton
Act (AKA “Civil Service Reform Act”) was set up. Define this act.
30. One way to make sure that information is disclosed by our government is through the
Government in the Sunshine Act. Define this term:
31. One way to control the size and scope of our federal bureaucracy is through Sunset
Legislation. Define this term.
32. Another approach to reforming our bureaucracy is through privatization of government
services. Define privatization.
33. Why do supporters of privatization argue for the privatization of some government
services (such as operation of prisons)?
34. Skip to page 444. Define Whistleblower.
35. (not in your textbook, use the internet and your own opinion to answer this). Do you
think Edward Snowden is a whistleblower or a traitor to the U.S. Government who has
committed treason? EXPLAIN WHY.
36. SKIP to the section called “Controversies” on page 445. Read this short section. Do you
agree or disagree with the decisions made by federal government agencies when
enforcing the Endangered Species Act in relation to cutting the flow of irrigation water
from Klamath Lake in Oregon? Also, EXPLIAN WHY.
37. Skip to page 446. Define Iron Triangle:
38. Read the section entitled “Iron Triangles”. Legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups
work together to make public policy in the “Iron Triangle” alliance. Why does Congress
pay such close attention to interest groups when developing public policy ?
39. Read the section entitled “Issue Networks” on Pp. 446-447. Define Issue Network.
40. What kinds of issues on public policy do issue networks support?
41. Which do you think is more effective at policymaking, Iron Triangles or Issue Networks?
Why?
42. Read the next section entitled “Ways Congress Does Control the Bureaucracy”, and then
identify two ways Congress can actually control agencies in the bureaucracy of the
federal government.