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THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY. Examining the “Fourth Branch”. Bureaucracy. literally means “rule by desks” government by clerks. Bureaucracy. A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials. Characteristics of a Bureaucracy. Hierarchical authority Job specialization
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THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY Examining the “Fourth Branch”
Bureaucracy • literally means “rule by desks” • government by clerks
Bureaucracy A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy • Hierarchical authority • Job specialization • Rules & Regulations • Neutrality
Public Perceptions of Bureaucracies • impersonal • inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures • may stifle effectiveness & innovation • “red tape”
The Damages of the Bureaucracy Artist: unknown, La Presna, Panama Date: May, 2006 Source:http://www.politicalcartoons.com
Federal Employees Self Esteem Class Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknown Source: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif
The Federal Bureaucracy What is the federal bureaucracy?
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 w/ 2,000+ bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. • Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration
The Federal Bureaucracy What does the federal bureaucracy do?
Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy Implementation- carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the Prez Administration- routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries) Regulation- issue rules & regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)
FEMA’s Follies Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver Post Date: April, 2006 Source:http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp
The Federal Bureaucracy How is the federal bureaucracy organized?
The Federal Bureaucracy Consists of • Cabinet Departments • Independent Executive Agencies • Independent Regulatory Commissions • Government Corporations
Federal Bureaucracy Federal Bureaucracy President Congress Executive Office of the President (Ex: OMB, NSC) Independent Regulatory Commissions (Ex: FCC, SEC) Independent Executive Agencies (Ex: CIA, NASA) Cabinet Departments (Ex: State, Defense) Government Corporations (Ex: Amtrak, Postal Service)
Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/
Another Layer of Bureaucracy Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant Date: February, 2006 Source: : http://www.politicalcartoons.com
The Cabinet Departments • 15 Cabinet Dept headed by a “secretary” appointed by Prez & approved by Senate • Each Dept “expert” in specific policy area • Each Dept has its own budget • Dept of Homeland Security- newest (2002)
Cabinet Departments 15 Hierarchy Pyramids Secretary Undersecretary Senior Executive Service Bureaus, Offices, Services
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 w/ separate status outside executive branch • Given a specific mandate & perform a service function, not a regulatory one
Independent Executive Agencies Outside the major Executive Departments Soc Sec Admin, CIA, NASA, EPA
Independent Regulatory Commissions • Regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the FCC (public air waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply) • IRCs operate independently from Congress & Prez • Agency capture • Once appointed & seated, members cannot be removed w/o cause
Independent Regulatory Commissions Regulate a specific economic activity or interest Protect the public interest
Government Corporations Government owned Businesses May or may not be profitable
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
97% are career government employees Only 10% work in 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?”
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/
The President Supervises the Bureaucracy • 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 • 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 bureaucracy has acted w/in the law & U.S. Constitution • provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action Supreme Court of the United States
Bureaucratic Pathologies • Red Tape - Complex rules & procedures • Conflict - Agency’s goals counter different Agency’s goals • Duplication - Performing the same tasks or overlap in duties • Imperialism - Tendency of agencies to grow without regard to benefits or costs of such growth • Waste - Spending more than is necessary
Thinking Critically • Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?” • Some critics believe that the real power in the federal government lies with the federal bureaucracy. To what extent do you believe this is true?