Government at work => Bureaucracy

There are 3 features to a bureaucracy Hierarchical authority- makes it clear who is in charge. Job Specialization- because of this, each person has a particular job & work is more efficient Formalized rules- forces decisions to be made according to rules & standards (NOT personal likes or dislikes)

The President is the chief administrator of the government & can require heads of executive depts. To assist in this administration (the executive branch is composed of 3 groups) see pg. 417 The Executive Office of the President 14 executive depts. Independent Agencies

Define their names: Department- refers to agencies of Cabinet rank; ex: Dept. of State Agency- a major unit headed by a single administrator of near cabinet status; ex: EPA Administration- much like an agency; ex NASA Commission- agencies who regulate business activities; ex: TVA Authority- agencies that support the President (offer advice); ex: National Security Council

Therefore a bureaucrat is a person who works for a bureaucracy

Executive Office Agencies & their Function

The EOP (Executive Office of the Presidency) is an umbrella agency with many complex separate agencies White House Executive Office- acts as the “nerve center” of the executive branch National Security Council- advise President in domestic, foreign, & military matters relating to national security Office of Management & Budget- prepares the federal budget (detailed estimate for expenditures for the coming year or fiscal year) for report; reports on all executive agencies’ functioning

Cont…. Office of National Drug Control- comes up with drug-control strategies to fight the drug problems. Council of Economic Advisors- provides advice to President on nation’s economy Office of Policy Development- advices the President on all matters relating to the nation’s domestic affairs (not directly connected to the realm of foreign affairs)

A Few more… Council of Environmental Equality- helps prepare “the state of the environment” report. Office of the Vice President- assists the Vice President Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives- advices on foreign trade matters Office of Science & Technology- advises on all scientific matters that apply to national policy Office of Administration- provides support services like transportation

The Executive Departments (Cabinet)

“the true test of a good government is its aptitude & tendency to produce a good administration.” Hamilton All of these depts. Are run by a secretary, except for the Dept. of Justice which is headed up by the attorney general Each dept. head is the primary link between Presidential policy & the dept. They are all named by the President & confirmed by the Senate. There are 14 executive depts. Today The Cabinet is there to serve as an informal advisory board to the President *see chart pgs

When was the 1 st woman appointed & who appointed the most at one time 1933 (Frances T. Perkins by FDR) Bill Clinton (5)

Independent Agencies Independent Agencies are just that, they are not part of the Cabinet.

3 types of Independent Agencies… Independent Executive Agencies- functions just like the Cabinet, but does not have Cabinet. Ex: NASA Independent Regulatory Commission- regulates important parts of the nation’s economy. Ex: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Government Corporations- carries out government’s business like activities. Ex: Postal Service

These Independent commissions are quasi-legislative (they have the power to make rules & regulations) & they have quasi-judicial powers in which they decide disputes in those fields in which Congress has given them policing authority ( to act in the place of Congress ) Remember the government still has influence on how these agencies are ran!

Civil Service ­» civilian employees

There are 2.7 million people who work for the Federal Government

History… The early presidents always chose members out of their own party Andrew Jackson took it to a new level with the “spoils system,” firing thousands of officeholders (he gave jobs to supporters & friends called patronage) They moved on to hiring on the basis of merit (accomplishments), thanks to the passage of the Pendleton Act 1883.

Today… The Office of Personnel Management recruits, hires, & trains federal employees The Merit System Protection Board made up of bipartisan members, controls the merit system & hears appeals from federal workers who have complaints about personnel actions.

Legislation… Hatch Act allowed federal workers to vote in elections, but it forbade them to take part in partisan political activities. Federal Employees Political Activities Act of this relaxed the Hatch Act, it allows workers to help register new voter, contribute money to parties & candidates, participate in campaigns, & hold office in a political party.