unit 6 the bureaucracy

federal bureaucracy

departments, agencies, commissions, and boards that help execute and enforce federal laws and programs

implementation

carry out the laws of Congress and executive orders of the president

administration

routine administrative work; provide services

regulation

issue rules and regulations that impact the public

cabinet departments

15 in total, major administrative units responsible for broad areas of government policy (experts); led by secretaries who are appointed by the president

independent executive agencies

mandate to perform a service function, not regulatory role (ex: NASA, Social Security Administration, EPA, CIA)

department of justice

chief justice is the head of

independent regulatory commissions

exists outside of major departments; regulate specific economic interest or government interests (FCC, FEC, FDA, SEC, Federal Reserve Board); members cannot be removed without a cause

government corporations

perform business functions that private businesses could provide; may or may not be profitable (ex: FDIC, U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Corporation for Public Broadcasting).

bureaucrats

people who work for the federal government enforce the “rules” of the government: sometime referred to as "civil servants”

Civil Service Reform

After the assassination of James Garfield in 1881 by Charles Guiteau brought attention to extremes cases of patronage

The Pendleton Act of 1883

landmark legislation establishing tradition that federal employment is based on merit rather than political party affiliation (spoil system)

merit system

hiring or promotion based qualifications/experience/merit testing

hatch act

prohibited civil servants from taking “activist” roles in partisan campaigns— could engage in “electioneering” activities (like giving money, working for a candidate, work for a political party, etc), but not while on duty

true or false: does congress give up some of its power when it passes a law that creates a new federal agency/department.

true

why does congress give federal agencies policy making discretion?

1. Congress lacks the expertise

2. its time consuming to create new policies

3. bureaucracy = more efficient

4. bad policy… Congress doesn’t get blamed

rule-making authority

creating regulations to implement federal law

discretionary (choice) authority

enforcing regulations

issue network

network of interest groups, committees and agencies and the mass media who regularly debate a particular issue

iron triangle

interest-based relationship between a bureaucratic agency. committee, and an interest group focused issue

congressional checks on bureaucracies

1. appropriations: provide funding

2. authorization bills: approve/ abolish agency, program or activity

3. oversight hearings: investigate agency activities by asking questions to the head

4. pass legislation that alters an agency’s functions

presidential influence of bureaucracy

1. issue executive orders for an agency to refrain or take action

2. appoint heads of bureaucracies/ removes them (these are people who align with the president’s ideology)

3. proposes policies

judicial check on the bureaucracy

1. judicial review: rule on the constitutionality of rules/regulations or certain bureaucrats’ actions

2. determine if the agency overstepped delegated authority