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The Federal Bureaucracy

The Federal Bureaucracy. AP Gov. Project, Emily Todd P-5 May 13, 2010. What is a bureaucracy?. A bureaucracy is an organization that is highly organized, has a hierarchy of positions, and has a specialization of jobs.

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The Federal Bureaucracy

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  1. The Federal Bureaucracy AP Gov. Project, Emily Todd P-5 May 13, 2010

  2. What is a bureaucracy? • A bureaucracy is an organization that is highly organized, has a hierarchy of positions, and has a specialization of jobs. • The bureaucracy, our Federal Bureaucracy, is the largest national employer (with over 3 million full time employees). • Employees of the Federal Bureaucracy are deemed “Civil Service Employees.”

  3. Functions and Features • The Bureaucracy features Divisions of Labor- these are further divided by specialization of work. • Employees are hired/promoted based on expertise. • There is a hierarchy of positions at the base structure. • There are many established rules and procedures. • The goal of the bureaucracy is to be efficient and effective.

  4. Who Makes Up the Bureaucracy? • The 15 Cabinet divisions and the Executive Office of the President are included in the Federal Bureaucracy. • Independent Agencies are also included (e.g. NASA, CIA, FDIC). • Regulatory Agencies are agencies that define policies and decide consequences; they have quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial power. Some examples are the FCC, the FDA, and the SEC. • Finally, Government Corporations are classified under the bureaucracy also. Corporations like the U.S. Postal Service, the TVA, and Amtrak.

  5. Accountability of the Bureaucracy • The bureaucracy is accountable to the Constitution in Article II, where the executive branch is described. • The bureaucracy is definitely accountable to the people of our nation- we count on them to carry out public policy correctly. • It is accountable to interest groups- they have to execute policies that are important to those groups. • It is accountable to Congress and the President. And within its own hierarchy, its members are accountable to their superiors.

  6. History of the Bureaucracy: Civil Service System • Spoils System: system by which members of the bureaucracy were chosen depending on who was in power. • Pendleton Act: this act said all bureaucracy positions must be awarded based off a merit system. • Merit System: based on technical ability. Technical ability is measured based off a Civil Service Test- 90% of civil service employees get jobs in the bureaucracy this way, the other 10% are appointed. • Hatch Act: talks about what you can/can’t do politically while working for the government. You CANNOT run for Federal Office, CANNOT actively campaign for federal candidates on the grounds of your job.

  7. What Gives the Bureaucracy Power? • Executive, legislative (budget) • Essential- we need them to run the country • Expertise- specialized in their fields • Discretion- they decide how policy is carried out • Clientele- they serve important groups- interest groups.

  8. Key Terms for Bureaucracy • Red Tape- bureaucratic delay/confusion; unnecessary paperwork. • Norms- unwritten rules/customs. • Protection of Turf- agencies don’t want other to encroach upon their responsibilities. • Budget Process- Congress/the President negotiate the budget. • Incrementalism- policy making is slow with little changes made over time. • Zero-Based Budget- start at 0 and outline spending with justification. • Static-Based- start with last year’s budget and Congress decides to increase or decrease each department’s funding.

  9. Types of Policies • Rule Making: just like a law. Quasi-legislative power. • Incremental Approach: policy that evolves over time. (traditional approach) • Congressional Oversight: can investigate other bureaucratic agencies and perform checks.

  10. Relations With Other Branches The President: makes appointments; can add or remove bureaucracy departments; budget powers (OMB- increase or decrease % per department); can impound funds (limited); has power of executive order. Legislative Branch: approve the budget; GAO- can investigate/audit financial bureaucratic agencies; approve appointments- advise and consent; they create the laws the bureaucracy carries out; oversight committees. Ways Congress Exercises Oversight: Sunshine laws (Freedom of Information Act), Iron triangle exchanges.

  11. Modern Reforms [Reagan]: devolution- more state responsibility, less federal government and bureaucracy. [Clinton and Gore]- in 90’s reduced size of bureaucracy by 12% (jobs/budgets); thought government was wasteful and had too many regulations; updated with computer systems; cut a lot of red tape; any agency over $20 million dollars/year had to report and justify budget to the OMB (with goals for a 5 year plan).

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