Bureaucracy

Powers of the Bureaucracy

• Implementation and Discretionary Authority

• Regulation

• Administrative Law

• Helping Congress draft legislation

• Providing advice to the White House

• Settling disputes

Implementation and Discretionary Authority

• Carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the president

• Agencies have power to set specific guidelines when receiving a general mandate from Congress

  • Congress gives them bones, bureaucracy adds the meat

Regulation

Issues rules and regulations that impact the public and that the private sector must follow (EPA sets clean air standards); Labels on food, emissions of cars, etc.

Administrative Law

• Rules and regulations created by an agency that have the effect of law

• Breaking rules results in being fined

Executive/Cabinet Departments

Large organizations with extensive missions and big budgets. Each of the fifteen cabinet departments is headed by a secretary; except Department of Justice which is headed by the Attorney General

Executive Departments

1. All of the heads are chosen by the President and confirmed by the Senate

2. Manage a specific policy are with responsibility further divided among various agencies

3. Secretaries often develop a strong loyalty to their departments. They become closer to the department than to the President

4. Secretaries have varying level of influence on presidential decisions

5. Secretaries can be fired by the president

Independent Executive Agencies (Standalone agencies)

A government agency that operates outside a traditional government department, but under the president’s direct control. Typically, these agencies have more focused missions

Independent Regulatory Agencies

A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress. These agencies are headed not by a single executive but by a small number of commissioners appointed by the president, with Senate confirmation, for fixed terms of office. Unlike other presidential appointees, commissioners cannot be removed from office without cause.

Why are Independent Regulatory Agencies created?

They are created by Congress to regulate important parts of the economy, making rules for large industries and businesses that affect the interests of the public. Since regulatory agencies are watchdogs that by their very nature need to operate independently, they are not part of a department.

Government Corporations

A government agency that is designed like a business corporation and is created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program. They often have greater authority to hire and fire employees quickly and are allowed to make money.