Bureaucracy:
• A systematic structure that handles the
everyday business of an organization
Bureaucrats
• The staff members (civil servants) of the
federal bureaucracy
• Most belong to the Executive branch, but
some report to Congress
Federal bureaucracy is organized into ...
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Agencies
Boards
Commissions
Corporations
Advisory committees
Why have a bureaucracy?
• Efficient: clear chain of command, one person
is boss with final decision
• Effective: set procedures and rules, specific
functions, defined responsibilities
• When the U.S. was formed, there were 2,120
… today nearly 3 million people work for the
federal government!
How is the Executive Branch
organized?
President and Vice President
President = Chief Executive
Vice President = must have same qualifications as President;
presidential succession
White House Office
-organize and manage the Executive
branch based on structure style
- Run the day-to-day affairs
- Appointed by President (some
need approval)
POLICY
POLITICS AND
MANAGEMENT
SUPPORT
3 areas of White House Office
Political and Management
• Chief of Staff
Denis
McDonough
– Closet advisor
– No Senate approval
– Coordinate day-to-day activities of the President
– Oversee other offices
• National Security Advisor
– Daily security briefings
– This person often becomes
Secretary of State
Susan Rice
Policy
• Executive office of the President
– Key White House staff, close advisors and experts
(appointed by President, some need approval)
– Offices:
• Office of White House
• Office of VP
– Only constitutional duties: President of Senate, 25th amendment
becomes President is President is disabled, Presidential succession
• Office of Management and Budget
– Assist President in preparing budget and supervise administration
after Senate approves *Economic Policy
• Office of Administration
• US Trade Representatives
– Advise President on foreign trade and negotiating agreements
Support
• Press Secretary
– NO Senate approval
– Chief spokesman for the President
– Control flow of information and set agenda
– In charge of press briefs
Josh Earnest
Cabinet
• The Cabinet is made up of the 15 Executive
departments created to advise the President
and oversee a specific policy area
Cabinet
• Article II – “heads of departments”; but
doesn’t list specifics about president’s
advisors
• Chosen for expertise in area
– Appointed by President, confirmed by Senate
– Must be “vetted” (review credentials)
– Can be fired by President without Senate approval
– Becoming more diverse
– Each department has many levels of authority
Inner Cabinet: President’s closest
advisors
1. Department of State
• Secretary of State = John Kerry
• Implements foreign policy
• Staffs embassies (offices of ambassadors in
foreign countries)
• Represents the U.S. at United Nations
2. Department of Treasury
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Secretary of Treasury = Jack Lew
Manages the nation’s money
Collect and oversee taxes
Borrow and print money
3. Department of Defense
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Secretary of Defense: Ashton Carter
Manage armed forces
Maintain forts, bases, harbors
Conduct military intelligence
4. Department of Justice
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Attorney General = Eric Holder
Attorney for U.S.
Run FBI, maintain federal prisons
Investigate federal law violations
5. Department of Interior
• Protect public parks and land
• DNR
• Native American Programs
6. Department of Agriculture
• Help farmers (subsidies)
• Food stamps/EBT
• School lunch program
7. Department of Commerce
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Business in U.S. and abroad
Census
Weather service, patents, weights, measures
Tide and current report
8. Department of Labor
• Protect American workers
– Minimum wage
– Unemployment
– Job training
9. Department of Health and Human
Services
• Implements national health policy
• Social Security and Medicare
• Food, drug and Cosmetics laws (works with
FDA)
10. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
• Public housing
• Ensures equal housing
• Improves roads, sewers
11. Department of Transportation
• Interstates, railroads, airports, mass transit
regulation and safety standards
12. Department of Energy
• Plans energy policy
– Gas and electric sales
– Conservation programs
13. Department of Education
• Federal assistance programs for schools
• College grants and loans
• NCLB and Race to the Top
14. Department of Veteran Affairs
• Benefits, hospital care and education for
veterans and their families
15. Department of Homeland Security
• Controls border patrol (immigration), Coast
Guard, Disaster Relief (FEMA), Secret Service,
works with FBI and CIA
Independent Agencies and
Corporations
Independent Executive Agencies
• Similar to cabinet department, but without
status
• Examples: NASA and CIA
Independent Regulatory Agencies
• Created by Congress, appointed by President,
approved by Senate
• Quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative
• Examples: FTC (trade), FCC (media), FEC
(campaigns), EPA (Environment), FDA (food
and drugs), CSPC (product recalls), OHSA
(health and safety at work), Federal Reserve
(inflation and interest)
Government Corporations
• Government run businesses that provide
services
• Examples: TVA, FDIC, USPS, AMTRACK, PBS
Regulation or Deregulation?
• Why regulate?
– Lobbyists often pressure the agencies
– Agencies and industries that they regulate can
develop close relationships because of the
revolving door (changing from government job to
lobbyist)
• Ethics in Government Act 1978, Ethics Reform Act 1989
Regulation Acts
• Administrative Procedure Act 1946
– Before adopting new rules, the agency must notify, hold
hearings, and request comments
• Freedom of Information Act 1966
– Citizens have the right to inspect government records
• National Environmental Policy 1969
– Must issue impact statement before any action involving
environment
• Privacy Act 1974
– Government files about people (SS and taxes) are confidential
• Open Meeting Law 1976
– Agency meetings must be open to the public (except military,
national security, etc.)
Impact of Regulations
• Waste – slow, costs
more money
• Red tape – too many
rules and procedures
• Conflict – meet one
criteria, messes up
another
• Duplication – lots of
forms and steps
• Imperialism – act
without regard to
others