Bureaucracy!

Chapter 6: The Judiciary

Iron Triangle

The relationship between Congressional Committees, Interest Groups, and the Bureaucracy.

Senate

Must confirm the heads of Cabinet Departments and various agencies.

Compliance

(blank) monitoring - actions taken by agencies to make sure businesses are following their directive.

SEC

Acronym for the agency that enforces fiance and stock market rules

Money

One way Congress can influence the bureaucracy is by appropriating (or not appropriating) (blank) via the budget process. 

Cabinet

The 15 (or so) Departments in the executive branch. Examples include the Department of Justice, Interior, Defense, State, etc. 

Impeachment

Usually we associate this with Presidents, but Congress can use (blank) to remove heads of the Cabinet and agencies.

Bureaucracy

Part of the executive branch, they administer the laws passed by Congress. It Includes agencies such as NASA, EPA, SEC, and many you’ve never heard of. Each of these agencies are housed under the cabinet department (e.g. Defense of State)

Discretionary 

Sometimes called “rule-making”, it is the ability of the bureaucracy to make decisions when the law is vague (e.g. the EPA ruling a new chemcial)

Investigative

Congressional committees can issue subpoenas (call to testify) and hold hearings about the bureaucratic agencies. This is part of Congress’ (blank) powers. 

Federal Reserve

Sets interest rates, controls the money supply with the goal of managing inflation and unemployment. They are in charge of monetary policy. The heads of this serve 14 years.  

President

Appoints/nominates heads of agencies but needs Senate approval

Oversight

When Congress via committees, monitors the bureaucracy to ensure laws are being implemented - this ensures accountability. 

Regulatory 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors pollution, the Securities and Exchange Commission monitors stock fraud, the Federal Elections Commission monitors election fraud, the Federal Communications Agency (FCC) monitors the actions of television and radio. These agencies are known as Independent (blank) agencies.

CBO

Non-partisan agency that estimates the effects of Congressional spending. E.g. Trump’s new budget increases the deficit by x amount over the next 4 years.

FCC

The acronym for the agency that won’t let Eminem be. They regulate what is said on public airways.

IRS

Acronym for the agency in charge of collecting taxes.

EPA

Acronym for the agency that is responsible for enforcing environmental laws.