Unit 4
Explain how the United States Constitution grants and
limits the authority of public officials and government
agencies.
I: What is the Federal
Bureaucracy?
A: The agencies and
employees of the
Executive Branch.
A: The agencies and employees of the
Executive Branch
• I. Carry out laws and programs that the
Congress has created.
• II. Types of Agencies:
• 1. Regulatory Agencies regulate, or police, the
activities of organizations, or protect the public.
– a. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules
for TV and radio stations
– b. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- prevents
air and water pollution
– c. Occupational Safety and Health Adm. (OSHA)makes sure workplaces are safe.
Other Agencies include
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d. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)makes sure that food, drugs, cosmetics are
pure, effective, and truthfully labeled.
e. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)ensures safety with airlines.
f. Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC)- Regulates financial markets (stock
markets), stop dishonest investment
practices.
Can you name these agencies?
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BBB
TSA
NTSB
FBI
CIA
DEA
NLRB
CDC
2. Executive Agencies- Independent of
presidential control. Deal with certain specialized
areas within the government.
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A. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(NASA)
1. operates the space program
B. Federal Reserve System (the FED)
1. Regulates our economy and our money supply.
Makes sure that there is not too much money out
there for people to spend.
C. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
D. Internal Revenue Service: Handles the collection of
taxes and tax evasion.
E: CIA: ? 007
3. Government Corporations: Government owned or
sponsored companies. Operate as private corporations
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A: US Postal Service
B: Federal National Mortgage Association
(known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae)
C: Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS)
D: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC)
4. Presidents Cabinet: Advisory Group chosen by president to help
accomplish the work of the executive branch.
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Dept. of State
Dept. of Treasury
Dept. of Defense------- independent agency NSA, CIA
Dept. of Justice------- independent agencies ATF, FBI
Dept. of Interior
Dept. Agriculture
Dept. of Commerce
Dept. of Labor
Dept. Health and Human Services
Dept. of House and Urban Development
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Energy
Dept. of Education
Dept. Veterans Affairs
Dept. Of Homeland Security- newest cabinet post- 2002---- FEMA
People who work for agencies within the federal
government are called the federal bureaucracy.
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Executive department top leadership jobs go
to political appointees –people whom the
president has chosen because they have
proven abilities or were supporters of the
election campaign. These people are political
appointees and leave when new
administrations take over.
90% of all national gov. employees are civil
service workers. They have permanent
employment thru the civil service system.
Before 1883- Spoils System was in place.
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Each new president chose people as a
reward for political support. All old workers
were replaced with new workers.
“To the victor belong the spoils (jobs)”
President James Garfield was assassinated
by a disgruntled man who was denied a job
under the system. Public outrage led
Congress to pass the Pendleton Act in
1883.
Pendleton Act- Civil Service Reform Act
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The reform act placed limits on the number of
jobs a new president could create to backers
and friends.
The Office of Personnel Management directs
and sets standards for govt. employees.
Merit System: employees must pass the Civil
Service exam to be qualified for employment
Group Activity
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Read the Federal Bureaucracy Background
Essay and answer the questions on the Graphic
Organizer.
Complete the Examples of Federal Regulation
activity.
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Team Captain- Reads the regulation’s descriptions
Runner- Reads the supporter’s comments
Reader- Reads the critic’s comments
Secretary- records the groups answers on discussion
guide
Ticket Out: Will complete in class.
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Everyone should complete the alphabet soup
matching worksheet.