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Unit 7 Chapter 10: Federal Bureaucracy. Section 1 Bureaucratic Organization Mr. Young. Essential Questions. What is the major importance of the Federal Bureaucracy?. I CAN:. Define the concept of Bureaucracy and describe its characteristics
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Unit 7Chapter 10: Federal Bureaucracy Section 1 Bureaucratic Organization Mr. Young
Essential Questions • What is the major importance of the Federal Bureaucracy?
I CAN: • Define the concept of Bureaucracy and describe its characteristics • Explain the concept of a Bureaucrat and their function within the government • Identify and Describe the structure and function of the Federal Bureaucracy
Group #1 Definitions of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy - • A professional corps of unelected officials organized in a pyramid hierarchy, functioning under impersonal uniform rules and procedures.
Bureaucracy • A hierarchical organization in which offices have specified missions and employees are assigned responsibility based on merit, knowledge, and experience.
bureaucracy Definition:an administrative system, especially in a government, that divides work into specific categories carried out by special departments of nonelected officials
bureaucracy • literally means “rule by desks” • government by clerks
Duty of BureaucracyCabinet Departments • Most Important duty: Carry out the Day-to-Day business of the government • 15 cabinet departments
Group #2 What and Whom are “Bureaucrats?”
Bureaucrats • A Civil servant • Permanent employee of the government
97% are career government employees Only 10% live in the D.C. area 30% work for the D.O.D. Less than 15% work for social welfare agencies Most are white collar workers: secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congress Who are the “Bureaucrats?”
The Federal Bureaucracy is: • 4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants” • President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments) • 15 cabinet level departments • 200+ independent agencies with 2,000+ bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. • Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration
Bureaucratic Statistics • 2.9 million civilians • 1.4 million military • 4.2 million state • 11.4 million local • Total: 19.8 million people work for government
Where do Federal Employees Work? Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do? Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
Group #3 Functions and Structures of the Federal Bureaucracy
Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy Implementation- carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President Administration- routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries) Regulation- issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards) Source:http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp
Organization • Departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and advisory committees • Article 2- President appoints heads of departments
The Cabinet Departments • The 15 cabinet departments headed by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president and approved by the Senate • Each department “expert” in specific policy area • Each department has its own budget • Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is newest department
Department of Homeland Security Executive Secretary Commandant of Coast Guard (1) Legislative Affairs Secretary ---------------------------------- Deputy Secretary Inspector General Public Affairs General Counsel State and Local Coordination Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Citizenship & Immigration Service Ombudsman (1) Director, Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (1) Special Assistant to the Secretary (private sector) Director of the Secret Service (1) Small & Disadvantaged Business Privacy Officer National Capital Region Coordination Chief of Staff International Affairs Shared Services Counter Narcotics Under Secretary Management Under Secretary Science and Technology Under Secretary Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Under Secretary Border & Transportation Security Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and Response Note (1): Effective March 1st, 2003
Independent Executive Agencies • Established by Congress with separate status outside the executive branch • Given a specific mandate and generally perform a service function, not a regulatory one. • Some examples include: Social Security Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.
Independent Agencies • Similar to cabinet departments but usually have a narrower area of responsibility • Ex: NASA, CIA • Perform services for the executive branch
Independent Regulatory Commissions • IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the Federal Communications Commission (public air waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply) • IRCs operate independently from Congress and the President • Once appointed and seated, members cannot be removed without cause
Regulatory Commissions • Administrative units that have responsibility for the monitoring and regulation of ongoing economic activities • Created to make rules for large industries and businesses that affect public interest • Under intense pressure from lobbyists • Ex: EPA (environment), SEC (stocks and bonds)
Government Corporations • Government owned businesses created by Congress • May or may not be profitable, but serve a public need • Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Government Corporations • Independent agencies, are similar to private organizations in that they can charge for their services but differ in that they receive federal funding • Ex:TVA, USPS, Amtrak
Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
Group #4 Characteristics and Criticisms
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy • administration of government through departments • consists of unelected often highly trained professionals • task specialization • hierarchical authority
Public Perceptionsof Bureaucracies • impersonal • inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures • may stifle effectiveness and innovation • “red tape”
Criticism of Bureaucracy I. RED TAPE • too many rigid procedures >>> ex: all hiring must be done through OPM • too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstances • too many forms to fill out, lines to wait II. INEFFICIENCY • lack of incentive to be productive - no profit motive III. DUPLICATION OF SERVICES • bureaucracy is so complicated • agencies are performing similar and sometimes the same functions • Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps with Dept. of Interior, etc. • federalism makes this more complicated, many services are provided at the state and national level both
Criticisms Continued IV. BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKER • regulations end up having the effect of law. V. BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIG • privatization would be more effective VI. BUREAUCRACY IS CORRUPT • iron triangle - reveals the relationship between the Executive branch, Congress and private interest groups that can lead to decisions which benefit the private sector at the expense of the government.
Group #5 Oversight of the Federal Bureaucracy
The President Supervises the Bureaucracy The President can: • appoint & remove agency heads • reorganize the bureaucracy • issue executive orders • reduce an agency's budget President Bush speaks about his budget priorities for FY 2007
Congress Oversees the Bureaucracy Congress can: • create or abolish agencies & departments • cut or reduce funding • investigate agency activities • hold committee hearings • pass legislation that alters an agency's functions • influence or even fail to confirm presidential appointments Former FEMA Chief Michael Brown testifies before House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina
Federal Courts Check the Bureaucracy Federal courts can: • through judicial review rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted within the law and the U.S. Constitution • provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action Supreme Court of the United States
Question • Why do you think that the organization of Bureaucracies are so confusing?
Question • What do the 15 departments help to make up, guaranteed by the 25th amendment, that we talked about in the last unit.
Cabinet Departments • Serve as the major service organization for the federal government • Has broad powers and responsibility • 15 different cabinets with different agendas and duties
Department of State • Founded: 1789 • Overall foreign policy of the United States • Embassies- office of ambassadors in foreign countries • Current Secretary: Hillary Clinton
Department of Defense • Founded: 1789 (Department of War) • Changed name in 1949 • Protects the nation’s security • Joint Chiefs of Staff (Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force) • Current Secretary: Leon Panetta
Department of Treasury • Founded: 1789 • Managing the money of the US • Ex: IRS, Bureau of Mint, Bureau of Public Debt • Current Secretary: Timothy Geithner
Department of Interior • Founded: 1849 • Protect public lands and natural resources throughout the nation • Ex: Bureau of Mines • Current Secretary: Ken Salazar
Question • What Service, created by Teddy Roosevelt, would be found in the Department of Interior? (hint, think of Old Faithful)