The Executive Branch: Bureaucracy in a Democracy

Bureaucracies are an essential part of life. They provide the services that we use everyday and rely on in emergencies. –Ex. U.S. Weather Service, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Department of Education (student loans for example), etc. Bureaucracies are usually looked down on as “big government” and are disparaged by both politicians and the general public. This is usually where the complaints of fraud, waste and abuse are directed in government. The bureaucracy is necessarily large because to provide its services it is made up of specialists who need all sorts of resources and tools to do their jobs, they must coordinate with many others to share information, they must also effectively reach out to the public. The bureaucracy provides a way to coordinate the many different parts that must work together in order to provide good services. Bureau’s and agencies are the creatures of Congress and the President.

How is the Executive Branch Organized Cabinet departments, agencies and bureaus are the operating parts of the bureaucratic whole. These can be separated into four general types: –Cabinet departments –Independent agencies –Government corporations –Independent regulatory commissions

Cabinet Departments At the top is the “Secretary” below are several top administrators: such as: –Chief Information Officer –Chief Financial Officer –Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment –These in turn are heads of several agencies (See chart 7.1 on page 283)

Bureau Level Highest level of responsibility for specialized programs Well known agencies such as: –Forest Service –Food Safety and Inspection Service –Federal Bureau of Investigation

Independent Agencies Outside of the Department structure Set up by Congress, appointed by the President and is directed by him. Broad powers to provide public services that are either too expensive or too important to be left to private companies. Examples: NASA, CIA, EPA

Government Corporations Similar to a private business by performing and charging for fee, such as delivering the mail (U.S. Postal Service) or transporting rail passengers (Amtrak)

Independent Regulatory Commission Broad authority to make rules 1 st one was the Interstate Commerce Commission (1887) –These Commissions are created by Congress because they handle the rules and their adherence for different areas of the economy. They require the kind of expertise and full time attention that is beyond the ability of Congress. Other examples: FCC (Federal Communications Commission), FTC (Federal Trade Commission)

Government Agencies These are organized by the “mission” of each agency, as defined by its jurisdiction: –Clientele Agencies –Agencies for the Maintenance of the Union –Regulatory Agencies –Redistributive Agencies

Clientele Agencies Serve Particular Interests Certain agencies are directed by law to foster and promote the interests of their clientele. Department of Agriculture: serves the many farming interests. Department of Commerce and Labor (1803): foster and promote the interests of commerce both foreign and domestic, the mining, manufacturing, the shipping and fishing industries and the transportation facilities of the country Also act as lobbyists for their clients in Washington. Other examples: DOE, HUD, ED, DOT

Agencies for Maintenance of the Union These agencies help to keep the country going: 3 Categories –Agencies for the control of the sources of government revenue –Agencies for control of conduct defined as a threat to internal national security –Agencies for defending American security from external threats The most important departments for these are: Treasury, Defense, Justice and State

Revenue Agencies IRS: Internal Revenue Service One of the largest bureaucracies, over 100,000 employees collected 200 million tax returns Cost 41 cents per $100 in taxes to collect.

Agencies for Internal Security When not in a civil war or revolution, most work is legal and that lies with the Justice Department. Justice DepartmentJustice Department – Most important and largest agency in the JD is the Criminal Division – responsible for enforcing all the federal criminal laws. –Antitrust Division and the Civil Rights Division –Criminal litigation is done by U.S. Attorneys. (Appointed by the President) They are assigned to each judicial district and supervise the work of assistant U.S. Attorneys. –Federal Bureau of Investigation – no litigation only information gathering. –In 2002, Department of Homeland Security created

Agencies For External National Security State and Defense departments are the most important agencies Fewer than 20% of US government employees working abroad are related to State department. Most are with Defense.