The bureaucracy

The federal bureaucracy implements policy by:

1) Writing and enforcing regulation

2) Issuing fines

3) testifying before congress

Iron triangle

Alliance between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies. And interest groups

Iron triangle model

Left: congress committee

Middle: Bureaucracy laws

Right: interest groups

Bottom: Bureaucracy

Spoils system

Andrew abused his power of patronage, allowed the President to appoint most of the bureaucrats jobs

1883 Pendleton Act

Created the civil service which uses a merit system that prioritizes hiring and promotion based on professionalism

Discretionary authority

The ability to choose course of action and to make policies not set by law. Congress has allowed agencies to have a lot of discretionary authority in recent years

Oversight

Congressional hearing to shift blame off congress

Congress has the power of oversight..

Because they wrote the legislation

Agencies utilize their discretion to..

Create and enforce regulations

Congress oversight

1) Review, monitor and supervision of agency

2) investigation & committees hearing of activities

Congress has the

Power of the purse to appropriate or withhold funds from an agency

Power inferred from

Power to legislate

What effects how the executive branch carries out goals?

Political ideology, authority, and Influence

Compliance monitoring

Ensures funds are being used properly and regulations are being followed

What can the president remove?

Head of agency