Federal Bureaucracy

Executive Offi ce of the President

Executive Departments

Independent Agencies

The Civil Service

GOVERNMENT AT WORK:

THE BUREAUCRACY

OPPOSING VIEWS

Large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization

Organizations with a bureaucracyFederal GovernmentUS ArmyMcDonald’sCatholic ChurchBishop Walsh

WHAT IS A BUREAUCRACY?

Hierarchical Structure Chain of command; pyramid structure Pro: Con:

Job Specialization Each member has certain defined duties &

responsibilities Pro: Con:

Formalized Rules Established set of regulations Pro: Con:

FEATURES OF A BUREAUCRACY

Agencies, people & procedures that help the government carry out its policies

Almost all in the Executive BranchConstitution gives the President broad powers to

establish an administration to carry out his or her policies

Executive Offi ce of the PresidentCabinet DepartmentsIndependent Agencies

THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

Department -- Cabinet-levelAgencies & AdministrationsUsually single-administrators; near Cabinet-levelEPA; NASACommissionsRegulate businessFCC; SECCorporations or AuthoritiesBusiness-like activitiesFDIC; TVA

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Until 1857, presidents paid support staff out of pocketEOPEstablished 1939Reorganized in every administration

White House Offi ceNational Security CouncilOMBCouncil of Economic Advisers

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

WHITE HOUSE OFFICE

Rule of propinquity: closer your offi ce to the Oval, the more influence you have.

West Wing > East Wing > Old Executive Offi ce Building

WHITE HOUSE OFFICE

Chief of StaffTop AideDirects White House

operationsPress SecretaryGives daily press

briefi ngs; voice of administration

White House Counsel (legal adviser)Communications DirectorDeputy COSOffi ce of Legislative Aff airs

WHO’S IN THE WEST WING?

Meets at the Presidents call to assist in most foreign matters

Members: VP, Sec of State & Defense, CIA Director, chairman of Join Chiefs of Staff

National Security Adviser heads the staff of policy experts

Advisory body

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

Large & infl uential Prepares the federal budget submitted by the President Budget: detailed list of receipts (money in) and

expenditures (money out) during a fi scal year (Oct 1 – Sept 30)

Federal agencies submit budget proposals to the OMB OMB revises & fi ts the requests into the President’s plan Oversees the funds appropriated by Congress Helps president prepare executive orders & veto messages

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Three members; confirmed by SenateChief economic advisers to the PresidentHelps prepare Annual Economic Report to Congress

COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS

15Cabinet DepartmentsNot mentioned in Constitution1789: State, Treasury & WarEach department has its own policy areaEach headed by a secretary (except DOJ) https : / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=xxSv i6 JCCfk

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

At one time, the main advisors to the presidentToday, most time spent administering respective

departmentTwo GoalsServe the PresidentPromote & protect his or her departmentSubject to Senate confirmation

Oldest:Biggest:Largest Budget:Newest:

WHAT DOES THE CABINET DO?

“Cabinet” = head of 15 departments + other offi cers at president’s discretion

OMB DirectorVPChief of StaffUS Trade RepEPAUS Ambassador to the UN

CABINET-LEVEL OFFICERS

Party of the PresidentPlayed a role in the campaignRegional Balance – Where should the Sec. of Interior

come from?First Woman: First African-American:First Hispanic:

First Female Sec. of State:

First Female Attorney General:

WHO GETS APPOINTED?

Bill Clinton: Cabinet played a key role JFK: Cabinet meetings a “waste of time”Lincoln: “Seven nays, one aye: the ayes have it.”Taft: “The Cabinet is a mere creation of the

President’s will…It exists only by custom.” Jackson: Kitchen CabinetFDR: Brain TrustTruman: Cronies

Most presidents hold regular cabinet meetingsOften media events

PRESIDENTS ON THE CABINET

None until 1880sToday, nearly 150Exist outside the Cabinet departmentsNOT independent of the president

Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent Regulatory commissionsThe Government Corporations

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

Organized like Cabinet departments

GSA, NASA, EPACivil Rights Commission,

Peace Corps, FCCAmerican Battle

Monuments CommissionCitizen's Stamp Advisory

Committee

INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE AGENCIES

Largely outside of president’s control

10Rules & regulations have the

force and eff ect of lawCan mediate disputes in

their fieldsDoes work Congress does

not have time for.Federal ReserveFTC; SEC; FCC; NLRB

INDEPENDENT REGULATORY

COMMISSIONS

Carry out business activitiesFirst: Bank of the United States (1791)Export-Import BankUS Postal ServiceAmtrakThough function like businesses, all employees are

public

GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS

Most federal employees are not presidential appointees

Civil Service created as a way to staff these administrative jobs

Jackson’s Spoils System

Pendleton Act

CIVIL SERVICE