2.12 The Federal Bureaucracy

What is the Federal Bureaucracy?

The millions of people under the executive branch that help the president enforce laws

What are the 4 components of the Federal Bureaucracy?

1. Cabinet Departments

2. Agencies

3. Independent Regulatory Commissions

4. Government Corporations

What are Cabinet Departments?

A cabinet is a group of people under the executive branch that help the president enforce laws

What are Agencies?

Subdivisions of the cabinet departments

What is an Independent Regulatory Commissions?

A government entity that is responsible for regulating specific parts of the economy/society rather than enforcing broad laws; they enforce specific rules (regulations). These commissions are independent of the president, unlike cabinets/agencies

What is a government corporation?

A business that the government operates to sell services to the public (e.g US postal service)

What are the 3 functions of the Federal Bureaucracy?

1. Writing and Enforcing Regulations

   1. e.g. FCC requires every TV show to have closed captions

2. Compliance Monitoring (Issuing Fines for Non-Compliance)

3. Interact with Congress

   1. Heads of departments testify before congressional committees

What is the Iron Triangle, and what 3 groups make up the concept?

Definition: The relationship between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.

Interaction: Congress provides funding to agencies and create laws. Bureaucratic agencies enforce those laws, and interest groups promote lobby congress for policies that favor their interests/concerns.

What is an Issue Network?

A group of people/organizations that work together to solve a specific policy issue

What was the Spoils System?

An early system where presidents appointed people to the bureaucracy based on loyalty to the president and their party.

What was the Civil Service Reform?

Established a hiring system based on merit through the civil service exam, giving out jobs to the most qualified and educated people in government.

Effect: promote fairness and equality for the bureaucratic hiring system.