1. Unit IVC The Federal Bureaucracy
The Institutions
Unit IVC
The Federal Bureaucracy

2. Bureaucracy
A systematic and hierarchical organization in government established to develop and implement policies and regulations in relation to enacted legislation
Principles
Hierarchical Authority
Pyramid structure
Job Specialization
Division of labor; specific duties and responsibilities for each individual position
Rules and Regulations
Established regulations and procedures for facilitation
Discretionary authority
Legislative – rule-making
Executive – rule administration
Judicial – rule adjudication

3. Development of the Federal Bureaucracy
Early Constitutional Period
Small number of agencies and positions
Selection based on qualifications and political affiliation
Antebellum Period
Jackson and the spoils system
Late 19th Century
Civil Service Reform
Pendleton Act/Civil Service Act of 1883
Merit system, competitive exams; limited partisan politics
Established Civil Service Commission to enforce
Modern Bureaucracy
Agencies grew substantially due to New Deal programs, Great Society, Cold War, wars/conflicts
Hatch Act (1939)
Limited political activities on duty, use of position for campaigns
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Established Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Established government employee classifications and salaries, training and recruitment programs
Protection of whistleblowers

4. Growth of Modern Bureaucracy
Power and Justification
Regulation and de-regulation
Agency capture
Political appointments
Evolving Government for Evolving World
Technological development (communication, transportation)
Globalization and world affairs
Difficulty of Termination
Numerous steps to ultimately fire a government employee
Official record of chronic behavior, substantial evidence, public hearings, viable witnesses, right of due process, appeals
Fewer than 1/10th of 1% of federal employees have been fired for incompetence
The Plum Book

9. Federal Bureaucracy Organization
Executive Departments
Cabinet-level executive agencies established for specific policy areas
Agency heads work at the pleasure of the President
May be impeached/removed by Congress
Independent Executive Agencies
Administration, policy analysis, intelligence
May report to Congress and other agencies
Independent Regulatory Agencies
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
Business-like agencies usually providing goods and services

10. The Executive Departments
Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Office of the Surgeon General
Medicare
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
Transportation (DOT)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Education
Federal Student Aid
Veterans’ Affairs (VA)
Homeland Security
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)
State
Treasury
United States Mint/Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Defense (“The Pentagon”)
National Security Agency (NSA)
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Justice
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
National Park Service
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agriculture (USDA)
Commerce
Bureau of the Census
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

11. Independent Executive Agencies
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Promote small businesses and economic recovery
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Social security checks and applications
National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
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
The Smithsonian Institution

12. Independent Regulatory Agencies
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Prevent monopolies; consumer protection
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Securities, stocks, bonds, commodity trading
Federal Reserve
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)

13. Government Corporations
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)
Government Enterprises
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)

15. Bureaucrats as Policymakers
Iron Triangles
Bureaucratic Agency
Receive increased power and appropriations
Congressional Committee
Receive electoral support and campaign contributions
Interest Groups
Interests satisfied
Designed for mutual benefit
Issue Networks
Congressional Staff
Experts/Professors
Mass Media
Designed for the benefit of public interest

16. Controlling the Bureaucrats
Congress
Authorization
Permitting funds by related committees
Appropriations
Reallocation of federal funding
Oversight
Supervision and investigations by committees
Subpoena agencies for public committee hearings and testify under oath
Legislative Authority
Pass laws to limit or terminate an agency
Sunset laws
The President
Appointments
Change department/agency heads for a supportive or efficient leader
Executive Orders
President invokes preferences through legal means
Office of Management and Budget
Change agency budget; require increased supervision
Reorganization
Supreme Court
Rule a policy/law/executive action unconstitutional
The Media
Watchdog
Investigative journalism
Freedom of Information Act
The People
Sunshine Laws
Interest groups

17. Bureaucratic Issues/Problems
Red Tape
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.’
Conflict
Rivalries between agencies on similar policies
‘Sometimes the goal/objective is overlooked by competition.’
Duplication
Agencies performing same or similar tasks
“Congress doesn’t know what it’s doing, but they made the laws so we follow them.”
Imperialism
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
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.’