The Institutions
Unit IVC
The Federal Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
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A systematic and hierarchical organization in government
established to develop and implement policies and
regulations in relation to enacted legislation
Principles
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Hierarchical Authority
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Job Specialization
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Pyramid structure
Division of labor; specific duties and responsibilities for each individual
position
Rules and Regulations
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Established regulations and procedures for facilitation
Discretionary authority
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Legislative – rule-making
Executive – rule administration
Judicial – rule adjudication
Development of the Federal
Bureaucracy
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Early Constitutional Period
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Antebellum Period
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Small number of agencies and positions
Selection based on qualifications and political affiliation
Jackson and the spoils system
Late 19th Century
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Reform movements
Pendleton Act/Civil Service Act of 1883
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Merit system, competitive exams; limited partisan politics
Established Civil Service Commission to enforce
Modern Bureaucracy
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Agencies grew substantially due to New Deal programs, cooperative federalism
Hatch Act (1939)
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Limited political activities on duty, use of position for campaigns
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
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Established Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Established government employee classifications and salaries, training and recruitment programs
Protection of whistleblowers
Growth of Modern Bureaucracy
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Power and Justification
Evolving Government for Evolving World
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Buddy System
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Technological development, efficient communication, world
affairs, globalization require increased diligence and vigilance
Agencies may request to fill a position and specifically name
an individual for the job
Difficulty of Termination
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Numerous steps to ultimately fire a government employee
Official record of chronic behavior, substantial evidence,
public hearings, viable witnesses, right of due process, appeals
Federal Bureaucracy Organization
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Executive Departments
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Cabinet-level executive agencies established for specific policy areas
Agency heads work at the pleasure of the President
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Independent Executive Agencies
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Administration, policy analysis, intelligence
Agency heads work at the pleasure of the President
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May report to Congress and other agencies
May be impeached/removed by Congress
Independent Regulatory Agencies
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May be impeached/removed by Congress
Agencies that regulate and police; enforcers of legislation
Function outside influence of the President
Agency heads serve fixed terms and only removed for just cause
Government Corporations
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Business-like agencies usually providing goods and services
The Executive Departments
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State
Treasury
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Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and
Explosives (ATF)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
U.S. Marshals Service
Office of the Solicitor General
Interior
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National Park Service
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agriculture (USDA)
Commerce
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Bureau of the Census
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Medicare
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Transportation
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Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)
Health and Human Services
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National Security Agency (NSA)
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Justice
Labor
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Defense (“The Pentagon”)
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United States Mint/Bureau of Engraving and
Printing
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Energy
Education
Veterans’ Affairs
Homeland Security
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United States Coast Guard
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
United States Secret Service
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Independent Executive Agencies
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Small Business Administration (SBA)
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Social Security Administration (SSA)
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Social security checks and applications
National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
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Promote small businesses and economic recovery
Foreign policy information; espionage
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Selective Service System (SSS)
National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Peace Corps
Independent Regulatory Agencies
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
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Securities, stocks, bonds, commodity trading
Federal Reserve
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Prevent monopolies; consumer protection
Monetary policy
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Elections Commission (FEC)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
Government Corporations
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Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK)
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
 National Public Radio (NPR)
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Government Enterprises
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)
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Bureaucrats as Policymakers
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Iron Triangles
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Bureaucratic Agency
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Congressional Committee
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Receive electoral support and
campaign contributions
Interest Groups
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Receive increased power and
appropriations
Interests satisfied
Designed for mutual benefit
Issue Networks
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Congressional Staff
Experts/Professors
Interest Groups
Mass Media
Designed for the benefit of public
interest
Controlling the Bureaucrats
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Congress
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Authorization
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Appropriations
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Appointments
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President invokes preferences through legal means
Office of Management and Budget
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Change department/agency heads for a supportive or efficient leader
Executive Orders
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Change agency budget; require increased supervision
Reorganization
Supreme Court
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Pass laws to limit or terminate an agency
The President
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Supervision and investigations by committees
Subpoena agencies for public committee hearings
Legislative Authority
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Reallocation of federal funding
Oversight
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Permitting funds by related committees
Rule a policy/law/executive action unconstitutional
The People
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Freedom of Information Act
Interest groups
Bureaucratic Issues/Problems
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Red Tape
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Conflict
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Agencies performing same or similar tasks
“Congress doesn’t know what it’s doing, but they made the laws so we follow them.”
Imperialism
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Rivalries between agencies on similar policies
‘Sometimes the goal/objective is overlooked by competition.’
Duplication
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Complex rules and procedures to accomplish tasks
“Make sure the government is being equal and just.”
‘Too much paperwork. Slows down process. Frustrating for constituents.’
Increase of agency’s power and influence no matter the cost
“We interpreted the vague law as best we could and developed our policies in accordance.
Tell Congress to write clearer laws.”
Waste
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Inefficient use of funding and manpower; spending too much
“Why lower costs? We’re the government. There’s plenty.”
‘Lining the pockets of bureaucrats and lobbyists.’