1. The ABCD’S of Government
An easy way to remember the bureaucracy

2. The Bureaucracy Includes…
All of the component pieces to the Cabinet Departments and Independent Agencies of the Federal Government (All branches).
For a listing of all Federal Government Components, please go here:
encies/index.shtml
A similar structure exists at the State Level.

3. The Bureaucracy is commonly thought of as…
Just those component agencies of the President’s Cabinet…

4. However… It is made up of many parts…
Departments and their component pieces
Independent Executive Agencies
Government corporations
This is where we begin the ABCD’S (and other letters) of Government

5. The A’s… Agencies, such as the CIA and EPA
Administrations, such as the General Services Administration and NASA
Authorities, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority

6. The B’s
Boards, such as the National Transportation Safety Board and the Railroad Retirement Board.
Bureaus such as the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs

7. The C’s
Commissions, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, or the Federal Elections Commission
Corporations, like the FDIC and Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)
Committees, such as the Federal Geographic Data Committee
Councils, such as the Council of Economic Advisors
Centers: ex: CDC
Combatant Commands: ex: NorthCOM, USAFRICOM, CENTCOM, PACCOM, etc.

8. The D’s
Departments, like the Cabinet Departments, or the components of the Department of Defense
Divisions
Directorates – ex: Director of National Intelligence

9. The S’s Systems – example: The Selective Service System
Services – the Public Health Service, the National Park Service, etc.
If it’s a Service, its personnel most likely wear a uniform.

10. There are also the I’s and O’s
Institutes or Institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health or the Smithsonian Institution
Offices, like the Office of National Drug Control Policy

11. There are also a ton of abbreviations and acronyms…
OTUS: of the United States
POTUS: President of the United States
VPOTUS: Vice President of the United States
FLOTUS: First Lady of the United States
SCOTUS: Supreme Court of the United States
COM: Command (normally used in the military)
(Joint Service Combatant Command)
Ex: CENTCOM, PACCOM, USAFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, TRANSCOM

12. There are those that look alike…
AG vs. Ag.
Attorney General vs. Agriculture
DHS vs. DHHS
Department of Homeland Security vs. Department of Health and Human Services
SEC vs. FEC vs. FCC vs. ICC
Securities and Exchange Commission
Federal Elections Commission
Federal Communications
Interstate Commerce Commission

13. Can you tell these apart?
Comm.
Cmte.
COM
Cmdr.
Comm’r.

14. And, of course… There are those that are just funny…
Like the White House Military Office (WHMO)
Pronounced “Whammo.”
There are also those that just make sense, too!
SecDef, SecState, etc.

15. The Uniformed Services also have their own language too…
Can you name the 8 uniformed services?
I know you can name at least 5!!
Ranks and pay grades are abbreviated
Unit structures are abbreviated
Operational units are abbreviated
Classifications of equipment are abbreviated

16. So…let’s see how good you are
Name these agencies
Agency: NARA
Hint: Keeper of the Records
Bureau: BPE
Hint: Dollar Bills
Department: DOC
Hint: Trade

17. And some more – civilian and military agencies, places, or positions
Place: WH, HOB, FCI,
Combatant Commander: CINCPAC, SACEURCOM
Office (generalized to all Cabinet Dept.): OIG
Uniformed Service: USPHS
Administration (the weather people): NOAA
Place (military, generalized): NAS, AFB, FOB
Bureau: ATF, BJS, BLM
Cabinet Department: DOL, DOJ, DOE, USDA, DOT
Person: SecEd, SecAF, SecTrans
Geographic Regions: NCR and CONUS

18. Some final ones to test your knowledge:
USPS (Independent Government Corporation)
USMS (there are two) (One law enforcement, one uniformed service)
USSS (law enforcement)
CBP (law enforcement)
ICE (law enforcement)
FSIS (formerly in Ag., now DHS)
USS vs. USNS
USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA

19. Any questions??
See…the bureaucracy can be fun!!