The Organization of the Bureaucracy

Overview
- Estimates indicate there are over 2,000 federal government agencies, commissions, and departments.
- Each agency specializes in a particular area; however, the duties of these agencies often overlap, complicating administration.
- Many agencies have counterparts at state and local levels, adding to complexity.
- The federal bureaucracy is subject to constant attempts at reorganization and streamlining due to its size and overlapping responsibilities.
Congressional Power
- Congress holds the authority to create, organize, and disband all federal agencies.
- Most agencies operate under the President's control, yet few have direct contact with the White House.
- Thus, the bureaucracy is influenced by both Congress and the President (described as having two masters).

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies

Cabinet Departments
- The federal bureaucracy falls into four main types:
  - Cabinet Departments
  - Government Corporations
  - Independent Agencies
  - Regulatory Commissions
- The 15 Cabinet Departments include the following:
  - Department of State
  - Treasury Department
  - Department of Defense
  - Department of Justice
  - Department of the Interior
  - Department of Agriculture
  - Department of Commerce
  - Department of Labor
  - Department of Transportation
  - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  - Department of Health and Human Services
  - Department of Energy
  - Department of Education
  - Department of Veterans Affairs
  - Department of Homeland Security
- Each Cabinet department is headed by a Secretary, except for the Justice Department, which is led by the Attorney General, also a Cabinet member.
- Responsibilities include directing departmental policy and overseeing operations.
- Secretaries deal with a dual role: as presidential advisers and department heads.
- Each department has a Deputy or Undersecretary and several Assistant Secretaries managing major programs within the department.
Government Corporations
- Government corporations operate independently and are not affiliated with any department.
- Notable examples include:
  - United States Postal Service
  - Amtrak
- Government corporations are created by Congress and charge fees for their services, competing with both private and state businesses (e.g., Federal Express and New Jersey Transit Authority).
Independent Agencies
- Independent agencies are similar to Cabinet departments but are generally smaller and less complex, focusing on narrower responsibilities.
- While they have some independence, most independent agencies remain under presidential control conceptually.
- Created for practical and symbolic reasons; for example, NASA was established as an independent agency rather than being part of the Department of Defense due to its broader objectives.
Regulatory Commissions
- Regulatory agencies oversee significant sectors of the economy, creating rules impacting public interests.
- These commissions, referred to as **