1. Chapter 9 The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy
To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions
American Government: Roots and Reform, 10th edition
Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato
 Pearson Education, 2009

2. What is Bureaucracy?
The word bureau-cracy literally means “to rule from a desk”.
The idea is that government workers, who often work at desks, are essentially “ruling us”…

3. Think-Pair-Share What is the bureaucracy?
Explain why Congress created the bureaucracy in 1789

4. The Roots of Bureaucracy
Foreign Affairs, War, & Treasury are first departments.
Growth in early 1800s with Post Office.
Andrew Jackson greatly expanded appointments
He introduced Patronage and the spoils system
Payback to political supporters is now the norm
Civil War spawns another expansion (DoA).
New agencies were needed during and after the war

5. The Roots of Bureaucracy
Assassination of President Garfield meant changes
Assassin was expecting a presidential appointment
Pendleton Act is beginning of civil service system.
Also known as merit system, based on qualifications
Creation of independent regulatory commissions after problems with railroad expansion
Appointed by president, but not subject to his will

6. Think-Pair-Share
Explain the difference between the spoils system and the merit system

7. Twentieth-Century Bureaucracy
Growing number of cabinet departments.
Labor and Commerce were split
Need for a larger government to support wars.
Expansion after income tax enacted
New Deal and Great Society were major expansions
Government is used to handle additional growth and changes in economy and society

8. AV- Growth of Government Employees
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9. Round Robin
Explain why the bureaucracy expanded during World War II

10. Who are Bureaucrats? More than 2.7 million employees.
Most are selected based on merit.
These continue despite party in power
Also have high-level political appointees.
Mostly at the top management (GS) level
Wide variety of skills are represented: forest rangers, FBI Agents, computer programmers, security guards, librarians, postal carriers, engineers, lawyers, etc.

11. Figure 9.1- Civilian Employment
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12. Who are Bureaucrats? Less diverse than America.
56% male in 2004, 68.6% white
More low level jobs held by females, higher level by males
Scattered throughout D.C. and regional offices.
Growth of outside contractors in recent years.
Pay in private sector is higher than public sector.

13. Round Robin Describe the demographics of the bureaucracy
Why do you think the demographics are the way that they are?

14. Figure 9.2- Employee Characteristics
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15. Figure 9.3- Agency Regions
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16. Formal Organization Cabinet departments handle broad, lasting issues.
Headed by secretaries.
Government corporations act like businesses.
Amtrack and FDIC
Independent executive agencies handle services.
Narrower than Cabinet department, independent.
Independent regulatory commissions watch industry.
Designed to be free from partisan pressure.
CIA & Environmental Protection Agency

17. Rally Robin
Summarize the jobs of each of the following organizations within the bureaucracy
The Cabinet
Government Corporations
Executive Agencies
Independent Regulatory Commissions

18. Figure 9.4- The Executive Branch
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19. Government Workers and Politics
Hatch Act sets first boundaries.
People wanted to make sure public employees did not assist in election activities
Federal Employees Political Act is current standard.
Liberalized many provisions in Hatch Act.
Employees may now run for non-partisan offices, contribute, and campaign on own time.

20. Table 9.1- FEPA 
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21. Rally Coach
Under the Federal Employees Political Activities Act, identify 6 examples of activities federal employees MAY NOT engage in

22. Characteristics of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracies have these features:
Chain of command from top to bottom.
Division of labor.
Clear lines of authority.
Goal orientation.
Merit system.
Productivity.

23. How the Bureaucracy Works
Congress creates agencies.
Main job is implementation of laws.
Policy made in iron triangles or issue networks.
Involve Agencies, Interest Groups and Congress
Increasing use of interagency councils.

24. Round Robin
Explain iron triangles
Give an example of an iron triangle

25. Figure 9.5- An Iron Triangle
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26. An Iron Triangle Example
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27. An Iron Triangle Example
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28. Making Policy Discretionary authority allows a lot of latitude.
Rule-making is a quasi-legislative process.
Formal procedure for making regulations.
Administrative adjudication is quasi-judicial process.
Used to settle disputes between two parties.

29. Figure 9.6- Rulemaking 
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30. Think-Pair-Share
Explain administrative discretion in regards to Rulemaking

31. Agency Accountability
Unclear who agencies should be accountable to.
All 3 Branches of government have oversight:
Presidents try to make the right appointments.
Can also shape policy through executive orders.
Congress can use oversight powers and funding.
Police patrol v. fire alarm oversight.
Judiciary can review regulations.

32. Table 9.2- Agency Accountability
Pg 326
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33. Round Table
Identify 3 ways in which the president can hold bureaucratic agencies accountable

34. Round Table
Identify 3 ways in which Congress can hold bureaucratic agencies accountable

35. Round Table
Identify 3 ways in which the judiciary can hold bureaucratic agencies accountable