1. THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY
Examining the “Fourth Branch”

2. Question: What’s it like at the DMV?
What did the inside of the DMV look like?
What was the job of its employees?
What service did you need?
What rules or procedures did you have to follow?
What was positive and negative about the experience?

3. bureaucracy
literally means “rule by desks”
government by clerks

4. bureaucracy
Definition: an administrative system, especially in a government, that divides work into specific categories carried out by special departments of nonelected officials

5. Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
administration of government through departments
consists of unelected often highly trained professionals
task specialization
hierarchical authority

6. Public Perceptions of Bureaucracies
impersonal
inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures
may stifle effectiveness and innovation
“red tape”

7. The Federal Bureaucracy
What is the federal bureaucracy?
The Federal Bureaucracy

8. 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 with 2,000+ bureaus, divisions, branches, etc.
Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration
Answer Discussion Questions

9. The Federal Bureaucracy
What does the federal bureaucracy do?
The Federal Bureaucracy

10. Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy
Implementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President
Administration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)
Regulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)
Source:

11. What Implementation Means
Policies are not self-executing
Laws are usually vague
Bureaucracies work out the details
Implementation is critical
Create new agency or assign new responsibility to existing agency
Translate policy goals into rules and guidelines
Coordinate resources

12. Why the Best-Laid Plans Sometimes Flunk the Implementation Test
High expectations  dashed hopes
Program design (e.g., COBRA)
Lack of clarity
Lack of resources
Lack of funding (e.g., Head Start)
Lack of personnel (disability, illegal aliens)
Lack of authority
Administrative routine (SOPs, “red tape”)
Administrators’ dispositions
Fragmentation

13. The Federal Bureaucracy
How is the federal bureaucracy organized?
The Federal Bureaucracy

14. The Federal Bureaucracy
Consists of
Cabinet Departments
Independent Executive Agencies
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Government Corporations

15. Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Source: Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

16. The Cabinet Departments
Each headed by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president and approved by the Senate
Undersecretaries, deputy undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, etc. (hierarchical)
Each department has its own policy area, own budget, own staff
Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is newest department

17. Independent Regulatory Commissions
Make and enforce rules
Examples:
Federal Communications Commission (public air waves)
Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply)
IRCs operate independently from Congress and the President
Governed by commissioners with fixed terms
Appointed by president confirmed by Senate
Difficult to fire / somewhat insulated from politics
Meant to act in public interest

18. Government Corporations
Government owned businesses created by Congress
Provide services that could be handled by private sector
Charge consumers for services but cheaper
May or may not be profitable, but serve a public need
Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

19. Independent Executive Agencies
Everything else
Established by Congress with separate status outside the executive branch
Administrators appointed by president
Given a specific mandate and generally perform a service function, not a regulatory one.
Some examples include: Social Security Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.

20. Who works for the federal government?

21. Who are the “Bureaucrats?”
97% are career government employees
Only 10% live in the 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

22. Where do Federal Employees Work?

23. What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?
Source: Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

24. Characteristics of federal nonpostal civilian employees

25. Answer in your packet:
What generalizations can you make about the federal work force based upon the statistical information given?

26. Who supervises the federal bureaucracy?

27. The President Supervises the Bureaucracy
The President can:
appoint & remove agency heads
reorganize the bureaucracy
issue executive orders
reduce an agency's budget
President Bush speaks about his budget priorities for FY 2007

28. Congress Oversees the Bureaucracy
Congress can:
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

29. Federal Courts Check the Bureaucracy
Federal courts can:
through judicial review rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted within the law and the U.S. Constitution
provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action
Supreme Court of the United States

30. The Bureaucracy of Pizza

31. Thinking Critically (to turn in)
Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?”
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?