The Bureaucracy

The Bureaucracy

• It is sometimes known as the “4th” branch because it links the other three branches

The Executive Office of the President

• EOP - a complex organization of several separate agencies staffed by most of the President’s closest advisors and assistants 

• Began with FDR in 1939

The White House Office

• The White House Office houses the President’s personal and political staff

• Chief of staff directs the operation of the White House Office

  • Chief of Staff

    • Susie Wiles as of Apr 4, 2025 

The Cabinet Department

• 15 departments

• All but senior people are hired by the civil service (around 90%)

• Cabinet heads are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

• They are responsible for their respective departments

The National Security Council

• It consists of the President, Vice President, and secretaries of the state, treasury, and defense

• Its job is to advise the President in all matters affecting the nation’s security

  • Secretary of State

    • Marco Rubio as of Apr 4, 2025

    • In charge of Foreign Affairs

  • Secretary of Treasury

    • Scott Bessent as of Apr 4, 2025

    • In charge of things such as the IRS and tariffs

  • Secretary of Defense

    • Pete Hegseth as of Apr 4, 2025 

    • In charge of the military immediately behind the President

      • In charge of the Pentagon

Office of Attorney General

• Chief Attorney for the US

• She is in charge of the Justice Department

• Pam Bondi as of Apr 4, 2025

Office of Management and Budget

• Headed by a director who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

• Major job is presenting the budget, which runs from January to February each year

• Federal Budget - A very detailed estimate of federal income and outcome through the next fiscal year

Spoils System / Patronage

• It rewards party loyalists

• When a new president took office, there was a large turn over in federal offices

• Andrew Jackson was most associated with this system. He fired over 2,000 federal employees when he took office

The Pendleton Act

• Passed in 1883, this act created the civil service. Anyone can apply for a job in the bureaucracy and jobs are given based on merit. (Applies to 90% of all federal workers)

  • Created after the assassination of James Garfield

  • The assassin shot Garfield because he would not give him a chance to apply for a job in the bureaucracy

  • Garfield assassination → Pendleton Acts → Civil Service → Merit

The Civil Service Commision

• Supervises a testing program to evaluate candidates

• Employees are to be selected and retained according to merit rather than political party

The Growth of the Bureaucracy

• The Supreme court ruled that only the president has the power to remove administrators in the bureaucracy

• Congress funds and investigates the agencies, and shapes the laws they administer. (Oversight)

• Bureaucrats affect how laws are interpreted

• Three major events causes a major growth in the bureaucracy

1. The Great Depression

2. World War II

3. The Great Society