Federal bureaucracy ver1_ppt

THE FEDERAL THE FEDERAL BUREACRACYBUREACRACYExamining the “Fourth Branch”Examining the “Fourth Branch”

bureaucracybureaucracy

• literally means “rule by desks”

• government by clerks

bureaucracybureaucracyDefinition: an administrative system, especially in a government, that divides work into specific categories carried out by special departments of nonelected officials

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a BureaucracyBureaucracy

• administration of government through departments• consists of unelected often

highly trained professionals• task specialization• hierarchical authority

Public PerceptionsPublic Perceptionsof Bureaucraciesof Bureaucracies

• impersonal

• inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures

• may stifle effectiveness and innovation

• “red tape”

The Federal Bureaucracy

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.



What is the federal bureaucracy?What is the federal bureaucracy?

The Federal Bureaucracy is: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






What does the federal bureaucracy do?What does the federal bureaucracy do?

Functions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracy

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - 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






How is the federal bureaucracy How is the federal bureaucracy organized?organized?

The Federal BureaucracyThe Federal Bureaucracy

Consists of1. Cabinet Departments 2. Independent Executive Agencies3. Independent Regulatory

Commissions4. Government Corporations

Federal Bureaucracy

President Congress

Executive Officeof the

President(Ex: OMB, NSC)

Government Corporations(Ex: Amtrack, Postal Service)

Independent Regulatory

Commissions(Ex: FCC, SEC)

Independent Executive Agencies

(Ex: CIA, NASA)

CabinetDepartments

(Ex: State, Defense)

Organization of the Federal BureaucracyOrganization of the Federal Bureaucracy

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

The Cabinet DepartmentsThe 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

Secretary----------------------------------

Deputy Secretary

Under SecretaryScience and Technology

Under Secretary Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

Under SecretaryBorder &

Transportation Security

Under Secretary Emergency

Preparedness and Response

Under SecretaryManagement

Inspector General

Director of theSecret Service (1)

Commandant ofCoast Guard (1)

Director, Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (1)

General Counsel

State and Local Coordination

Special Assistant to the Secretary(private sector)

National Capital Region Coordination

Shared Services

Citizenship & Immigration Service

Ombudsman (1)

Legislative Affairs

Public Affairs

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Department of Homeland Security

Chief of StaffPrivacy Officer

Executive Secretary

International Affairs

Counter Narcotics

Small & Disadvantaged Business

Note (1): Effective March 1st, 2003

Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent 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 Regulatory CommissionsIndependent 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

Government CorporationsGovernment 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

Who works for the federal Who works for the federal government?government?





Who are the “Bureaucrats?”Who are the “Bureaucrats?”• 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

Where do Federal Employees Work?


What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?


Who supervises the Who supervises the federal bureaucracy?federal bureaucracy?





The President Supervises the The President Supervises the BureaucracyBureaucracy

The President can:

• appoint & remove appoint & remove agency agency headsheads

• reorganize the reorganize the bureaucracybureaucracy

• issue executive ordersissue executive orders

• reduce an agency's reduce an agency's budgetbudget

President Bush speaks about his budget priorities for FY 2007

Congress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress 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 BureaucracyFederal 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

The Bureaucracy of PizzaThe Bureaucracy of Pizza

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

1. Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?”

2. 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?

Title: The Damages of the

BureaucracyArtist: unknown, La

Presna, PanamaDate: May, 2006

Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com

http://www.pritchettcartoons.com/gift.htm



Title: Federal Employees Self Esteem Class

Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknown

Source: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

Title: Another Layer of Bureaucracy

Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford CourantDate: February, 2006

Source: : http://www.politicalcartoons.com




Title: FEMA’s Follies

Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver PostDate: April, 2006

Source: http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp

http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp





Federal bureaucracy ver1_ppt

Education

federal bureaucracyhow

federal bureaucracysource

federal bureacracyexamining

cabinet secretary

executive orders

cabinet departmentsthe

services ex

public ex