Download - 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
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Who works for the federal Who works for the federal government?government?
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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?
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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?