THE FEDERAL
BUREACRACY
Examining the “Fourth Branch”
bureaucracy
• literally
means “rule
by desks”
• government
by clerks
bureaucracy
Definition: an administrative
system, especially in a
government, that divides work
into specific categories carried
out by special departments of
nonelected officials
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”
What is the federal bureaucracy?
The Federal Bureaucracy
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

What does the federal bureaucracy do?
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The Federal Bureaucracy
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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
How is the federal bureaucracy organized?
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The Federal Bureaucracy
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The Federal Bureaucracy
Consists of
1. Cabinet Departments
2. Independent Executive Agencies
3. Independent Regulatory
Commissions
4. Government Corporations
Federal Bureaucracy
President
Executive
Office
of the
President
(Ex: OMB, NSC)
Congress
Cabinet
Departments
(Ex: State, Defense)
Independent
Executive
Agencies
(Ex: CIA, NASA)
Government Corporations
(Ex: Amtrack, Postal Service)
Independent
Regulatory
Commissions
(Ex: FCC, SEC)
Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
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)
Director of the
Secret Service (1)
Small & Disadvantaged
Business
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 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
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
Who works for the federal government?
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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
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/
Who supervises the
federal bureaucracy?
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The President Supervises the
Bureaucracy
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
Understanding Bureaucracies
• Bureaucracy and Democracy
– Iron Triangles and Issue Networks
• Iron Triangles: A mutually dependent
relationship between bureaucratic agencies,
interest groups, and congressional committees
or subcommittees.
• Exist independently of each other.
• They are tough, but not impossible, to get rid
of.
• Some argue they are being replaced by wider
issue networks that focus on more policies.
Understanding Bureaucracies
Figure 15.5
The Bureaucracy of Pizza
Thinking Critically
1. Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the
fourth branch?”
2. Some critics believe that the real power in the federal
government lies with the federal bureaucracy. To what
extent do you believe this is true?
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