Unit 7 Chapter 10: Federal Bureaucracy Section 1 Bureaucratic Organization Mr. Young

Essential Questions  What is the major importance of the Federal Bureaucracy?

I CAN: 1.Define the concept of Bureaucracy and describe its characteristics 2.Explain the concept of a Bureaucrat and their function within the government 3.Identify and Describe the structure and function of the Federal Bureaucracy

Group #1 Definitions of Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy -   A professional corps of unelected officials organized in a pyramid hierarchy, functioning under impersonal uniform rules and procedures.

Bureaucracy  A hierarchical organization in which offices have specified missions and employees are assigned responsibility based on merit, knowledge, and experience.

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

bureaucracy literally means “rule by desks” government by clerks

Duty of Bureaucracy Cabinet Departments  Most Important duty: Carry out the Day-to-Day business of the government  15 cabinet departments

Group #2 What and Whom are “Bureaucrats?”

Bureaucrats  A Civil servant  Permanent employee of the government

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

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

Bureaucratic Statistics  2.9 million civilians  1.4 million military  4.2 million state  11.4 million local  Total: 19.8 million people work for government

Where do Federal Employees Work? Source: Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

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

Demographics of Federal Employees

Group #3 Functions and Structures of the Federal Bureaucracy

Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy 1. Implementation 1. Implementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President 2. Administration 2. Administration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries) 3. Regulation 3. Regulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards) Source: 1. Implementation 1. Implementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President 2. Administration 2. Administration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries) 3. Regulation 3. Regulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards) Source:

OrganizationOrganization  Departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and advisory committees  Article 2- President appoints heads of departments  Departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and advisory committees  Article 2- President appoints heads of departments

The Cabinet Departments The 15 cabinet departments headed by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president and approved by the Senate Each department “expert” in specific policy area Each department has its own budget Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is newest department

Secretary Deputy Secretary Under Secretary Science and Technology Under Secretary Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Under Secretary Border & Transportation Security Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and Response Under Secretary Management Inspector General Director of the Secret Service (1) Commandant of Coast 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 Staff Privacy Officer Executive Secretary International Affairs Counter Narcotics Small & Disadvantaged Business Note (1): Effective March 1 st, 2003

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

Independent Agencies  Similar to cabinet departments but usually have a narrower area of responsibility  Ex: NASA, CIA  Perform services for the executive branch

Independent Regulatory Commissions  IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the Federal Communications Commission (public air waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply)  IRCs operate independently from Congress and the President  Once appointed and seated, members cannot be removed without cause

Regulatory Commissions  Administrative units that have responsibility for the monitoring and regulation of ongoing economic activities  Created to make rules for large industries and businesses that affect public interest  Under intense pressure from lobbyists  Ex: EPA (environment), SEC (stocks and bonds)

Government 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

Government Corporations  Independent agencies, are similar to private organizations in that they can charge for their services but differ in that they receive federal funding  Ex:TVA, USPS, Amtrak

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

Group #4 Characteristics and Criticisms

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

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

Criticism of Bureaucracy I. RED TAPE   too many rigid procedures >>> ex: all hiring must be done through OPM   too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstances   too many forms to fill out, lines to wait II. INEFFICIENCY   lack of incentive to be productive - no profit motive III. DUPLICATION OF SERVICES   bureaucracy is so complicated   agencies are performing similar and sometimes the same functions   Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps with Dept. of Interior, etc.   federalism makes this more complicated, many services are provided at the state and national level both

Criticisms Continued IV. BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKER   regulations end up having the effect of law. V. BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIG   privatization would be more effective VI. BUREAUCRACY IS CORRUPT   iron triangle - reveals the relationship between the Executive branch, Congress and private interest groups that can lead to decisions which benefit the private sector at the expense of the government.

Group #5 Oversight of the Federal Bureaucracy

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

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

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

Question  Why do you think that the organization of Bureaucracies are so confusing?

Question  What do the 15 departments help to make up, guaranteed by the 25 th amendment, that we talked about in the last unit.

Answer: Presidential Succession

Cabinet Departments  Serve as the major service organization for the federal government  Has broad powers and responsibility  15 different cabinets with different agendas and duties

Department of State  Founded: 1789  Overall foreign policy of the United States  Embassies- office of ambassadors in foreign countries  Current Secretary: Hillary Clinton

Department of Defense  Founded: 1789 (Department of War)  Changed name in 1949  Protects the nation’s security  Joint Chiefs of Staff (Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force)  Current Secretary: Leon Panetta

Department of Treasury  Founded: 1789  Managing the money of the US  Ex: IRS, Bureau of Mint, Bureau of Public Debt  Current Secretary: Timothy Geithner

Department of Interior  Founded: 1849  Protect public lands and natural resources throughout the nation  Ex: Bureau of Mines  Current Secretary: Ken Salazar

Question  What Service, created by Teddy Roosevelt, would be found in the Department of Interior? (hint, think of Old Faithful)

Department of Agriculture  Founded: 1862  Help farmers improve their income and expand their markets  Ex: Food Safety and Inspection Service  Current Secretary: Tom Vilsack

Department of Justice  Founded: 1870  Attorney General (1789)  Oversee the nation’s legal affairs  Ex: FBI, DEA, US Marshals  Current Secretary: Attorney General Eric Holder

Department of Commerce  Founded: 1903  Promote and protect the industrial and commercial segments of the American economy  Ex: Bureau of Census, Patent and Trademark Office, National Institute of Standards and Technology  Current Secretary: John Bryson

Department of Labor  Founded: 1913  Protects American workers; safe working conditions, safeguards a minimum wage, and protects pension rights  Ex: Office of American Workplace  Current Secretary: Hilda Solis

Housing and Urban Development  Founded: 1965  Preserve the nation’s communities and ensure equal housing opportunities  Ex: Government National Mortgage Association  Current Secretary: Shaun Donovan

Transportation Department  Founded: 1966  Regulate all aspects of transportation needs, policy development, and planning  Federal Aviation, Railroad, Highway, and Transit  Secretary: Ray Lahood

Energy Department  Founded: 1977  Plans energy policy and researches and develops energy technology  Secretary: Stephen Chu

Question  What are some new research methods that the Energy Department is trying to work on to help the world with their environment problem?

Answer: Clean Energy, such as Wind, Solar, Clean Coal, Electric Cars

Health and Human Services Department  Founded: 1979  Health and social services needs of people  Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, FDA  Secretary: Kathleen Sebeliu

Education Department  Founded: 1979  Coordinate federal assistance programs for public and private schools  Education is an essential feature of democracy  Secretary: Arne Duncan

Veterans Affairs Department  Founded: 1989  Administers several hospitals, educational, and other programs designed to benefit veterans and families  Secretary: Eric Shinseki

Homeland Security Department  Founded: 2002  Created after September 11 th to help protect our nation, analyzes information from FBI and CIA  Secretary: Janet Napiltano

Organization Cont.

Title: The Damages of the Bureaucracy Artist: unknown, La Presna, Panama Date: May, 2006 Source:

Title: Federal Employees Self Esteem Class Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknown Source:

Title: Another Layer of Bureaucracy Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant Date: February, 2006 Source: :

Title: FEMA’s Follies Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver Post Date: April, 2006 Source:

Essential Questions  What is the major importance of the Federal Bureaucracy?

Works Cited Page    The Federal Bureaucracy: Examining the Fourth Branch