The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials

bureaucrat

A career government employee.

Cabinet Departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Justice…) Headed by Secretary or Attorney General (Department of Justice)

15

Number of Cabinet Positions

Independent Regulatory Agency

An agency outside the major executive departments charged with making and implementing rules and regulations.

Independent Executive Agencies

Federal agencies that aren't large or important enough to get department status. Directors appointed by President w/ advice & consent of Senate. Ex. NASA, CIA, EPA

regulation

the use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector

command-and-control policy

regulatory strategy where government sets a requirement and then enforces individual and corporate actions to be consistent with meeting the requirement.

incentive system

An alternative to command-and-control, with market like strategies such as rewards used to manage public policy.

Deregulation

The lifting of government restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities.

iron triangles

alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. Because of a common goal, these alliances may work to help each other achieve their goals, with Congress and the President often deferring to their influence

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

civil service

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

Pendleton Act of 1883

Created the Civil Service Commission to ensure that hiring of federal employees was based on examinations and merit rather than political patronage.

Power of the Purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

Department of Homeland Security

Cabinet department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Cabinet department - U.S. federal government body with primary responsibility for transportation safety regulation

Department of Veterans Affairs

Cabinet department - Directs services for veterans

Department of Education

Cabinet department - Provides advice and funding for schools

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

an independent governmental agency with environmental protection regulatory and enforcement authority

Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

A six member bipartisan agency that administers campaign finance laws and enforces compliance with their requirements.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

An independent agency that monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds

Hatch Act (1939)

Permitted government employees to vote in government elections but forbade them from participating in partisan politics

United States Postal Service (USPS)

A Government Corporation that provides mail processing and delivery to individuals and businesses within the United States.