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Shaping Public Policy. Bureaucracies and Regulatory Agencies. Bureaucracies. Main function is to organize and operate the federal government Bureaucracies must respond to: The Constitution Federal laws The Three Branches Public interest groups. Types of Bureaucracies. The Cabinet
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Shaping Public Policy Bureaucracies and Regulatory Agencies
Bureaucracies • Main function is to organize and operate the federal government • Bureaucracies must respond to: • The Constitution • Federal laws • The Three Branches • Public interest groups
Types of Bureaucracies • The Cabinet • Manage specific policy areas: defense, labor, state, etc. • Regulatory Agencies • Legislative power: issuing regulations • Judicial power: enforcing penalties for violations • Known as “alphabet agencies”
Types of Regulatory Agencies • Interstate Commerce Commission • Federal Trade Commission • Food and Drug Administration • Environmental Protection Agency • Occupational Safety and Health Administration • Consumer Product Safety Commission
Relations with Other Branches • President can: • Appoint heads of agencies • Issue executive orders • Reorganize federal departments • Congress can: • Control the budget for regulatory agencies • Exercise oversight through reviews and hearings (usually through the committee process)
The “Iron Triangle” • Describes the interrelationship among bureaucracies, the government (congressional committees), and interest groups
Bureaucracies & Public Policy • Cable television – Federal Communications Commission • Food labeling – Federal Trade Commission • Pollution control – Environmental Protection Agency • Airline safety – National Transportation Safety Board The public, interest groups, and the media can all impact the regulatory and policy making process