CH. 15 GOVERNMENT AT WORK: THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY CH. 15-1 THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

WHAT IS A BUREAUCRACY? BUREAUCRACY—large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization Example jobs—deliver mail, regulate business practices, collect taxes, etc. Bureaucracies are found wherever there are large organizations

THREE FEATURES OF A BUREAUCRACY 1) Hierarchical authority An organizational structure resembling a pyramid 2) Job specialization Each employee has defined duties and responsibilities 3) Formalized Rules People must work according to a set of established rules

THE BENEFITS OF A BUREAUCRACY Most effective way for people to work together on large and complex tasks Job specialization promotes efficiency Formalized rules means people can work faster due to an established set of rules Very important point about public bureaucracies:

Bureaucracies hold appointive offices Bureaucrats are UNELECTED public-policy makers A democracy depends on how effectively the bureaucracy is controlled by those whom the people do elect.

MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY The means by which the government makes and administers public policies (chart p. 417) President is chief administrator of the federal government Executive departments are not required by Article II but they are suggested Constitution anticipated two departments

One for the military (commander in chief) One for foreign affairs (ability to make treaties) The executive branch is divided into 3 broad groups: --Executive Office of the President --Executive Departments --Independent agencies

THE NAME GAME “Department”—reserved for cabinet level agencies Other titles used by lower level parts of government—agency (EPA), administration (NASA), commission (FTC), corporation (FDIC), and authority (TVA) Some parts are referred to as “alphabet soup” EPA, IRS, FBI, CIA, FCC, TVA Others by nicknames—Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)

STAFF AND LINE AGENCIES Staff Agencies—serve in a support capacity Aid the chief executive and other administrators Line Agencies—actually perform tasks for a particular agency Congress and the President give line agencies goals to meet Staff agencies help line agencies meet those goals

Examples of staff agencies: White House office, National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget Examples of line agencies: Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission THE END