the federal bureacracy

THE FEDERAL THE FEDERAL BUREACRACYBUREACRACYTHE FEDERAL THE FEDERAL BUREACRACYBUREACRACY

Examining the “Fourth Branch”Examining the “Fourth Branch”Examining the “Fourth Branch”Examining the “Fourth Branch”

BureaucracyBureaucracyBureaucracyBureaucracy

• literally means “rule by desks”

• government by clerks

• literally means “rule by desks”

• government by clerks

BureaucracyBureaucracyA large, complex organization composed of appointed officials

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a BureaucracyBureaucracy

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a BureaucracyBureaucracy

• Hierarchical authority

• Job specialization

• Rules & Regulations

• Neutrality

• Hierarchical authority

• Job specialization

• Rules & Regulations

• Neutrality

Public Perceptions of Public Perceptions of BureaucraciesBureaucracies

• impersonal

• inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures

• may stifle effectiveness & innovation

• “red tape”

The Damages of the Bureaucracy

Artist: unknown, La Presna, PanamaDate: May, 2006

Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com

Public PerceptionsPublic Perceptionsof Bureaucraciesof Bureaucracies

Federal Employees Self Esteem ClassFederal Employees Self Esteem Class

Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknown

Source: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

The Federal Bureaucracy

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What is the federal bureaucracy?What is the federal bureaucracy?What is the federal bureaucracy?What is the federal bureaucracy?

The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:

4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants”

President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments)

15 cabinet level departments 200+ independent agencies w/ 2,000+ bureaus,

divisions, branches, etc. Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service,

Veterans Administration

4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants”

President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments)

15 cabinet level departments 200+ independent agencies w/ 2,000+ bureaus,

divisions, branches, etc. Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service,

Veterans Administration

The Federal Bureaucracy

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What does the federal bureaucracy do?What does the federal bureaucracy do?

Functions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracyFunctions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracy

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the Prez

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - issue rules & regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the Prez

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - issue rules & regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)

FEMA’s Follies

Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver PostDate: April, 2006

Source: http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp

The Federal Bureaucracy

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How is the federal bureaucracy How is the federal bureaucracy organized?organized?

The Federal BureaucracyThe Federal BureaucracyThe Federal BureaucracyThe Federal BureaucracyConsists of1.Cabinet Departments 2.Independent Executive

Agencies3.Independent Regulatory

Commissions4.Government Corporations

Federal Bureaucracy

President Congress

Executive Officeof the

President(Ex: OMB, NSC)

Government Corporations(Ex: Amtrak, Postal Service)

Independent Regulatory

Commissions(Ex: FCC, SEC)

Independent Executive Agencies

(Ex: CIA, NASA)

CabinetDepartments

(Ex: State, Defense)

Organization of the Federal BureaucracyOrganization of the Federal Bureaucracy

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

Another Layer of Bureaucracy

Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford CourantDate: February, 2006

Source: : http://www.politicalcartoons.com

The Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet Departments

• 15 Cabinet Dept headed by a “secretary” appointed by Prez & approved by Senate

• Each Dept “expert” in specific policy area

• Each Dept has its own budget• Dept of Homeland Security- newest (2002)

Cabinet DepartmentsCabinet Departments

SecretarySecretary

UndersecretaryUndersecretary

Senior Executive ServiceSenior Executive Service

Bureaus, Offices, ServicesBureaus, Offices, Services

15 Hierarchy Pyramids15 Hierarchy Pyramids15 Hierarchy Pyramids15 Hierarchy Pyramids

Secretary----------------------------------

Deputy Secretary

Under SecretaryScience and Technology

Under Secretary Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

Under SecretaryBorder &

Transportation Security

Under Secretary Emergency

Preparedness and Response

Under SecretaryManagement

Inspector General

Director of theSecret Service (1)

Commandant ofCoast Guard (1)

Director, Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (1)

General Counsel

State and Local Coordination

Special Assistant to the Secretary(private sector)

National Capital Region Coordination

Shared Services

Citizenship & Immigration Service

Ombudsman (1)

Legislative Affairs

Public Affairs

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Department of Homeland Security

Chief of StaffPrivacy Officer

Executive Secretary

International Affairs

Counter Narcotics

Small & Disadvantaged Business

Note (1): Effective March 1st, 2003

Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive Agencies

• Established by Congress w/ separate status outside executive branch

• Given a specific mandate & perform a service function, not a regulatory one

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Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive Agencies

Outside the major Executive DepartmentsOutside the major Executive Departments

Soc Sec Admin, CIA, NASA, EPA

Independent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory Commissions

• Regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the FCC (public air waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply)

• IRCs operate independently from Congress & Prez

• Agency capture• Once appointed & seated, members cannot be removed w/o cause

Independent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory Commissions

Regulate a specific economic activity or interestRegulate a specific economic activity or interest

Protect the public interestProtect the public interest

Government CorporationsGovernment Corporations

Government owned BusinessesGovernment owned Businesses

May or may not be profitableMay or may not be profitable

Government CorporationsGovernment CorporationsGovernment CorporationsGovernment Corporations

• Government owned businesses created by Congress • May or may not be profitable, but serve a public need

• Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

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Who works for the federal Who works for the federal government?government?

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Who are the “Who are the “BBureaucrats?”ureaucrats?”• 97% are career government employees

• Only 10% work in D.C. area

• 30% work for the D.O.D.

• Less than 15% work for social

welfare agencies

• Most are white collar workers:

secretaries, clerks, lawyers,

inspectors & engineers

• Civil employees more diverse

demographically than Congress

Where do Federal Employees Work?

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

What Jobs Do Bureaucrats What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?Do?

What Jobs Do Bureaucrats What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?Do?

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:

Who supervises the Who supervises the federal bureaucracy?federal bureaucracy?

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The President Supervises the The President Supervises the BureaucracyBureaucracy

The President Supervises the The President Supervises the BureaucracyBureaucracy

• appoint & remove agency appoint & remove agency headsheads

• reorganize the bureaucracyreorganize the bureaucracy

• issue executive ordersissue executive orders

• reduce an agency's budgetreduce an agency's budget

• appoint & remove agency appoint & remove agency headsheads

• reorganize the bureaucracyreorganize the bureaucracy

• issue executive ordersissue executive orders

• reduce an agency's budgetreduce an agency's budgetPresident Bush speaks about his

budget priorities for FY 2007

Congress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress Oversees the Bureaucracy• create or abolish agencies & departments

• cut or reduce funding

• investigate agency activities

• hold committee hearings

• pass legislation that alters an

agency's functions

• influence or even fail to

confirm presidential

appointments Former FEMA Chief Michael Brown testifies before

House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina

Federal Courts Check the BureaucracyFederal Courts Check the BureaucracyFederal Courts Check the BureaucracyFederal Courts Check the Bureaucracy

Federal courts can:

• through judicial review rule on whether bureaucracy has acted w/in the law & U.S. Constitution

• provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action

Federal courts can:

• through judicial review rule on whether bureaucracy has acted w/in the law & U.S. Constitution

• provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action Supreme Court of the United States

The Bureaucracy of PizzaThe Bureaucracy of Pizza

Bureaucratic Pathologies

1. Red Tape - Complex rules & procedures

2. Conflict - Agency’s goals counter different Agency’s goals

3. Duplication - Performing the same tasks or overlap in duties

4. Imperialism - Tendency of agencies to grow without regard to benefits or costs of such growth

5. Waste - Spending more than is necessary

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

1. Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?”

2. Some critics believe that the real power in the federal government lies with the federal bureaucracy. To what extent do you believe this is true?