Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

Unelected officials in executive agencies who implement, enforce, and administer federal laws and programs.

Meritocracy

A system where a person's success, status, and advancement are determined by their own abilities, talents, and effort.

Cabinet Departments

15 main agencies (Ex: Department of Justice, Department of Defense).

Independent Executive Agencies

Narrow areas of responsibility and can be within the departments (Ex: FBI, NASA, EPA).

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Regulate parts of the economy, free from direct political control with fix terms and bipartisan structure (Ex: SEC, FCC).

Government Corporations

Mix of a government agency and a private company, provide services for fees like a business (Ex: USPS, Amtrak).

Implementation

Function of the bureaucracy: Carrying out laws Congress passes. (Ex: Investigating crimes like terrorism under the USA Patriot Act).

Regulation

Function of the bureaucracy: Writing rules to enforce laws. (Ex: EPA sets pollution limits under the Clean Air Act).

Administration

Function of the bureaucracy: Managing federal programs and services. (Ex: USPS delivers mail across the country).

Discretionary Authority

Bureaucrats' ability to decide how to enforce laws when Congress writes vague laws/rules. (Ex: SSA determines eligibility for benefits).

Rule-Making Authority

Power of bureaucrats: Agencies issue regulations that have the force of law. (Ex: OSHA creates workplace safety regulations).

Compliance Monitoring

Power of bureaucrats: The process by which federal agencies ensure that individuals, organizations, and state/local governments follow the rules and regulations set by law. (Ex: EPA monitors factories for compliance with the Clean Air Act).

Iron Triangle

Stable, three-way relationship among a Congressional Committee, a Bureaucratic Agency, and an Interest Group that dominates policy-making in a specific area. (Ex: Dept. of Ed. / Congressional Committee / NEA Interest Group).

Issue Network

Looser, more fluid coalitions of interest groups, experts, media, bureaucrats, and policymakers that form around specific policy issues. (Ex: EPA officials / Sierra Club / Scientists / Lobbyists / Congressional Committees).

Bureaucracy Accountability (by Congress)

Conducts oversight (hearings and investigations), controls funding (power of the purse), and can rewrite laws.

Bureaucracy Accountability (by President)

Makes appointments, gives executive orders to agencies, can reorganize or restructure an agency.

Bureaucracy Accountability (by SCOTUS)

Accountability (by SCOTUS) Uses judicial review to deem the actions of departments and agencies as unconstitutional. (Ex: Blocking parts of the EPA's Clean Power Plan).

Administrative Procedure Act

A law that requires federal agencies to announce their rules and actions to the public to be held accountable.

Legislative Branch

Passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making segregation illegal.

Executive Branch

Directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other departments to enforce the law.

Judicial Branch

Upheld the law in court cases.

Bureaucracy (Working Together)

Agencies carried out investigations and sometimes withheld federal funds to enforce compliance.

Tension (Congress v. Bureaucracy)

Some Congress members opposed enforcement, especially in the South.

Tension (Executive v. Bureaucracy)

President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) pressing the DOJ and EEOC to investigate violations and act quickly.