Unit 7
Chapter 10: Federal Bureaucracy
Section 1
Bureaucratic Organization
Mr. Young
Essential Questions
 What is the
major
importance of
the Federal
Bureaucracy?
I CAN:
1. Define the concept of Bureaucracy and
describe its characteristics
2. Explain the concept of a Bureaucrat and
their function within the government
3. Identify and Describe the structure and
function of the Federal Bureaucracy
Group #1
Definitions of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy  A professional
corps of unelected
officials organized
in a pyramid
hierarchy,
functioning under
impersonal
uniform rules and
procedures.
Bureaucracy
 A hierarchical
organization in
which offices have
specified missions
and employees are
assigned
responsibility based
on merit,
knowledge, and
experience.
bureaucracy
Definition: an administrative system,
especially in a government, that divides work
into specific categories carried out by special
departments of nonelected officials
bureaucracy
• literally
means “rule
by desks”
• government
by clerks
Duty of Bureaucracy
Cabinet Departments
 Most Important
duty: Carry out
the Day-to-Day
business of the
government
 15 cabinet
departments
Group #2
What and Whom are
“Bureaucrats?”
Bureaucrats
 A Civil servant
 Permanent
employee of the
government
Who are the “Bureaucrats?”




97% are career government employees
Only 10% live in the D.C. area
30% work for the D.O.D.
Less than 15% work for social
welfare
agencies
 Most are white collar workers:
secretaries, clerks, lawyers,
inspectors
& engineers
 Civil employees more diverse
demographically than Congress
The Federal Bureaucracy is:
4 million employees; 2.8 million are
civilians or “civil servants”
President only appoints 3% (patronage or
political appointments)
15 cabinet level departments
200+ independent agencies with 2,000+
bureaus, divisions, branches, etc.
Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal
Service, Veterans Administration
Bureaucratic Statistics




2.9 million civilians
1.4 million military
4.2 million state
11.4 million local
 Total: 19.8 million
people work for
government
Where do Federal Employees
Work?
Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
What Jobs Do Bureaucrats
Do?
Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/
Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
Demographics of Federal
Employees
Gender
Men
56%
Women
44%
Group #3
Functions and Structures of the
Federal Bureaucracy
Functions of the Federal
Bureaucracy
1.
2.
3.
Implementation - carry out laws of
Congress, executive orders of the President
Administration - routine administrative
work; provide services (ex: SSA sends
social security checks to beneficiaries)
Regulation - issue rules and regulations
that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean
air standards)
Source:
http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp
Organization


Departments,
agencies, boards,
commissions,
corporations, and
advisory committees
Article 2- President
appoints heads of
departments
The Cabinet Departments
• The 15 cabinet departments headed by a
cabinet secretary appointed by the president
and approved by the Senate
• Each department “expert” in specific policy
area
• Each department has its own budget
• Department of Homeland Security, created in
2002, is newest department
Department of Homeland Security
Executive Secretary
Commandant of
Coast Guard (1)
Legislative Affairs
Secretary
Inspector General
----------------------------------
Public Affairs
Deputy Secretary
General Counsel
State and Local Coordination
Special Assistant to the Secretary
(private sector)
Citizenship &
Immigration
Service
Ombudsman (1)
National Capital Region
Coordination
Chief of Staff
Director, Bureau of
Citizenship & Immigration
Services (1)
Small &
Disadvantaged
Business
Director of the
Secret Service (1)
Privacy Officer
International Affairs
Shared Services
Under Secretary
Management
Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties
Counter Narcotics
Under Secretary
Science and Technology
Note (1): Effective March 1st, 2003
Under Secretary
Information Analysis
and Infrastructure
Protection
Under Secretary
Border &
Transportation
Security
Under Secretary
Emergency
Preparedness and
Response
Independent Executive Agencies
 Established by Congress with separate
status outside the executive branch
 Given a specific mandate and generally
perform a service function, not a
regulatory one.
 Some examples include: Social Security
Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.
Independent
Agencies
 Similar to cabinet
departments but
usually have a
narrower area of
responsibility
 Ex: NASA, CIA
 Perform services for
the executive
branch
Independent Regulatory Commissions
 IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic
activity or interest such as the Federal
Communications Commission (public air
waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking
system, money supply)
 IRCs operate independently from Congress
and the President
 Once appointed and seated, members
cannot be removed without cause
Regulatory
Commissions
 Administrative units that
have responsibility for
the monitoring and
regulation of ongoing
economic activities
 Created to make rules
for large industries and
businesses that affect
public interest
 Under intense pressure
from lobbyists
 Ex: EPA (environment),
SEC (stocks and bonds)
Government Corporations
 Government owned businesses
created by Congress
 May or may not be profitable, but
serve a public need
 Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak,
Tennessee Valley Authority,
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Government
Corporations
 Independent
agencies, are similar
to private
organizations in that
they can charge for
their services but
differ in that they
receive federal
funding
 Ex:TVA, USPS,
Amtrak
Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
Group #4
Characteristics and Criticisms
Characteristics of a
Bureaucracy
• administration of
government through
departments
• consists of unelected often
highly trained
professionals
• task specialization
• hierarchical authority
Public Perceptions
of Bureaucracies
• impersonal
• inclined to follow
rigid or complex
procedures
• may stifle
effectiveness and
innovation
• “red tape”
Criticism of Bureaucracy
I. RED TAPE
 too many rigid procedures >>> ex: all hiring must be done through
OPM
 too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstances
 too many forms to fill out, lines to wait
II. INEFFICIENCY
 lack of incentive to be productive - no profit motive
III. DUPLICATION OF SERVICES
 bureaucracy is so complicated
 agencies are performing similar and sometimes the same functions
 Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps
with Dept. of Interior, etc.
 federalism makes this more complicated, many services are provided
at the state and national level both
Criticisms Continued
IV. BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKER
 regulations end up having the effect of law.
V. BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIG
 privatization would be more effective
VI. BUREAUCRACY IS CORRUPT
 iron triangle - reveals the relationship between
the Executive branch, Congress and private
interest groups that can lead to decisions which
benefit the private sector at the expense of the
government.
Group #5
Oversight of the Federal
Bureaucracy
The President Supervises
Bureaucracy
the
The President can:
• appoint & remove
agency heads
• reorganize the
bureaucracy
President Bush speaks about his budget
priorities for FY 2007
• issue executive orders
• reduce an agency's
budget
Congress Oversees the Bureaucracy
Congress can:
 create or abolish agencies
& departments
 cut or reduce funding
 investigate agency activities
 hold committee hearings
 pass legislation that alters
agency's functions
an
Former FEMA Chief Michael Brown testifies before
House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina
 influence or even fail to confirm
presidential appointments
Federal Courts Check the Bureaucracy
Federal courts can:
 through judicial review
rule on whether the
bureaucracy has acted
within the law and the
U.S. Constitution
 provide due process for
individuals affected by
a bureaucratic action
Supreme Court of the United States
Question
 Why do you think that the
organization of
Bureaucracies are so
confusing?
Question
 What do the 15 departments
help to make up, guaranteed by
th
the 25 amendment, that we
talked about in the last unit.
Answer:
Presidential Succession
Cabinet Departments
 Serve as the major
service organization
for the federal
government
 Has broad powers and
responsibility
 15 different cabinets
with different agendas
and duties
Department of
State
 Founded: 1789
 Overall foreign
policy of the United
States
 Embassies- office of
ambassadors in
foreign countries
 Current Secretary:
Hillary Clinton
Department of
Defense
 Founded: 1789
(Department of War)
 Changed name in
1949
 Protects the nation’s
security
 Joint Chiefs of Staff
(Army, Navy,
Marines, and Air
Force)
 Current Secretary:
Leon Panetta
Department of
Treasury
 Founded: 1789
 Managing the
money of the US
 Ex: IRS, Bureau of
Mint, Bureau of
Public Debt
 Current Secretary:
Timothy Geithner
Department of
Interior
 Founded: 1849
 Protect public lands
and natural
resources
throughout the
nation
 Ex: Bureau of Mines
 Current Secretary:
Ken Salazar
Question
 What Service, created by Teddy
Roosevelt, would be found in
the Department of Interior? (hint,
think of Old Faithful)
Department of
Agriculture
 Founded: 1862
 Help farmers
improve their
income and expand
their markets
 Ex: Food Safety
and Inspection
Service
 Current Secretary:
Tom Vilsack
Department of
Justice
 Founded: 1870
 Attorney General
(1789)
 Oversee the
nation’s legal
affairs
 Ex: FBI, DEA, US
Marshals
 Current Secretary:
Attorney General
Eric Holder
Department of
Commerce
 Founded: 1903
 Promote and protect the
industrial and
commercial segments of
the American economy
 Ex: Bureau of Census,
Patent and Trademark
Office, National Institute
of Standards and
Technology
 Current Secretary: John
Bryson
Department of
Labor
 Founded: 1913
 Protects American
workers; safe
working conditions,
safeguards a
minimum wage, and
protects pension
rights
 Ex: Office of
American Workplace
 Current Secretary:
Hilda Solis
Housing and Urban
Development
 Founded: 1965
 Preserve the
nation’s communities
and ensure equal
housing opportunities
 Ex: Government
National Mortgage
Association
 Current Secretary:
Shaun Donovan
Transportation
Department
 Founded: 1966
 Regulate all aspects
of transportation
needs, policy
development, and
planning
 Federal Aviation,
Railroad, Highway,
and Transit
 Secretary: Ray
Lahood
Energy Department
 Founded: 1977
 Plans energy
policy and
researches and
develops energy
technology
 Secretary:
Stephen Chu
Question
 What are some new research
methods that the Energy
Department is trying to work on to
help the world with their
environment problem?
Answer:
Clean Energy, such as Wind, Solar,
Clean Coal, Electric Cars
Health and Human
Services
Department
 Founded: 1979
 Health and social
services needs of
people
 Medicare, Medicaid,
Social Security,
FDA
 Secretary: Kathleen
Sebeliu
Education
Department
 Founded: 1979
 Coordinate federal
assistance
programs for public
and private schools
 Education is an
essential feature of
democracy
 Secretary: Arne
Duncan
Veterans Affairs
Department
 Founded: 1989
 Administers several
hospitals,
educational, and
other programs
designed to benefit
veterans and
families
 Secretary: Eric
Shinseki
Homeland Security
Department
 Founded: 2002
 Created after
September 11th to
help protect our
nation, analyzes
information from
FBI and CIA
 Secretary: Janet
Napiltano
Organization Cont.
Title: The Damages
of the Bureaucracy
Artist: unknown, La
Presna, Panama
Date: May, 2006
Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com
Title: Federal Employees Self Esteem Class
Artist: Chip Bok
Date: unknown
Source: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif
Title: Another Layer of Bureaucracy
Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant
Date: February, 2006
Source: : http://www.politicalcartoons.com
Title: FEMA’s Follies
Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver Post
Date: April, 2006
Source: http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp
Essential Questions
 What is the
major
importance of
the Federal
Bureaucracy?
Works Cited Page
 http://www.federalbudget.com/chartinfo.html
 www.youthleadership.net
 The Federal Bureaucracy: Examining the
Fourth Branch