THE CABINET DEPARTMENTS A. THE FOUNDERS ANITICIPATED THE NEED FOR FEDERAL AGNECIES TO CARRY ON THE DAILY BUSINESS OF Govt; currently nearly 3 million civilians work in the federal govt b. the 15 executive dept, headed by cabinet-rank officers, are a major part of the federal bureacracy

THE CABINET DEPARTMENTS (CONT’D) C. THESE DEPTS. ARE HEADED BY SECRETARIES AND STAFFED WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARIES, DEPUTY SECRETARIES, AND DIRECTORS OF MAJOR UNITS D. TWO OF THE FOUR DEPTS. CREATED BY CONGRESS IN 1789 ARE STILL AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT: THE DEPTS OF STATE AND TREASURY

THE CABINET DEPARTMENTS (CONT’D) E. THE OTHER 13 DEPTS. ARE THE DEPTS. OF INTERIOR, AGRICULTURE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, LABOR, DEFENSE, HEALTH, AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOMELAND EDUCATION, AND VETERAN AFFAIRS

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES A. THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY INCLUDES OVER 100 INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE HEADS ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT. B. THE SERVICES OF SEVERAL INDEPENDENT AGENCIES, SUCH AS nasa ARE WIDELY PUBLICIZED AND ARE AS LARGE AND WELL KNOWN AS CABINET DEPTS.

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES (CONT’D) C. SOME AGENCIES SUCH AS THE CIA AND THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, PROVIDE SERVICES DIRECTLY FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH D. GOVT CORPORATIONS ARE INDEPENDENT AGENCIES THAT DIRECTLY SERVE THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND THE U.S.P.S

REGULATORY COMMISSIONS A. ARE INDEPENDENT OF ALL 3 BRANCHES OF GOVT B. MAKE RULES FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES THAT AFFECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST C. ARE OFTEN UNDER INTENSE PRESSURES FROM THE GROUPS THEY REGULATE AND THEIR LOBBYISTS

REGULATORY COMMISSIONS D. HAVE BECOME MORE LIMITED IN THEIR POWERS BECAUSE CRITICS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEY OVERREGULATE THE ECONOMY E. WERE THE SUBJECT OF REGULATORY REFORM BY THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS IN THE MID 1990’S

CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM A. ONLY 11 PERCENT OF ALL FEDERAL GOVT EMPLOYEES WORK IN WASHINGTON D.C. B. MANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WORK IN OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE U.S AND THE WORLD

ORIGINS A. GOVT JOBS BECAME A SPOIL SYSTEM UNDER PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON B. THE SPOILS SYSTEM LED TO INEFFICIENCY AND CORRUPTION IN GOVT C. CALLS FOR REFORM STARTED IN THE 1850’S

ORIGINS (CONT’D) D. THE ASSSASINATION OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD BY A DISAPPOINTED OFFICE SEEKER LED TO THE PENDLETON ACT OF 1883, ESTALISHING THE PRESENT CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM BASED ON COMPETITIVE EXAMINAITIONS AND MERIT.

THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM TODAY A. APPLICANTS FOR FEDERAL JOBS ARE EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING. B. GOVT JOBS ARE ATTRACTIVE B/C THEY OFFER MANY BENEFITS C. GOVT WORKERS, UNLIKE MOST PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS, HAVE JOB SECURITY AND ARE DIFFICULT TO FIRE.

THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM TODAY (CONT’D) D. THE HATCH ACT OF 1939 WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT POLITICAL PARTIES FROM USING FEDERAL WORKERS TO AID IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS; IN RECENT YEARS, CRITICS HAVE ARGUED FOR AND AGAINST THIS LAW, WITH WOKRERS NOW PERMITTED SOME INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS

POLITICAL APPOINTEES IN GOVT A. NEARLY 10 PERCENT OF EXECTUIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, INCLUDING MANY CHOICE JOBS; THIS ALLOWS THE PRESIDENT TO PLACE LOYAL SUPPORTERS IN KEY OFFICES. B. THESE POLITICAL APPOINTEES ARE OUTSIDE CIVIL SERVICE AND ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST THE PRESIDENT’S POLITICAL SUPPORTERS.

POLITICAL APPOINTEES IN GOVT (CONT’D) C. POLITICAL APPOINTEES ARE NOT EXPERTS IN THE WORK OF THEIR AGENCIES, AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT LEAVES OFFICE MANY OF THEM RETURN TO PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS D. MANY POLITICAL APPOINTEES HOLD THEIR POSITIONS FOR SHORT TENURES, MAKING IT HARD FOR THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR JOBS. AS A RESULT, MUCH OF THE REAL POWER OVER DIALY OPERAITONS REMAINS IN THE HANDS OF CAREER OFFICIALS.

INFLUENCING POLICY A. POLICY CONSISTS OF ALL THE ACTIONS AND DECISIONS TAKEN OR NOT TAKEN BY THE GOVT. B. FEDERAL BUREACRATS CARRY OUT POLICY DECISIONS MADE BY THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS C. THE BUREACRACY OFTEN DETERMINES WHAT LAW MEANS THROUGH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IT ISSUES. D. IN 1995 CONGRESS SET PAPERWORK REDUCTION GOALS FOR FUTURE YEARS

INFLUENCING POLICY (CONT’D) E. BUREACRATS AID IN SHAPING POLICY BY HELPING CONGRESS DRAFT ITS NEW LAWS OR BY PROVIDING IDEAS FOR LEGISLATION F. WORKERS IN FEDERAL AGENCIES SHAPE POLICY BY THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS AND BY HEARING DISPUTES G. BUREAUCRATS ALSO SUPPLY ADVICE AND INFPORMATION TO TOP DECSOIN MAKERS, INFLUENCING WHETHER AN AGENCY SUPPORTS OR OPPOSES CERTAIN POLICIES.

WHY THE BUREAUCRACY MAKES POLICY A. THE GROWTH OF THE BUREAUCRACY MIRR. ORS THE GROWTH OF THE NATION’S POPULATION AND RAPID CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY B. THE COLD WAR AND INTERNATIONAL CRISIS SINCES WWII SPURRED THE GROWTH OF THE BUREAUCRACY. C. THE NEW DEAL DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL GOVT

WHY THE BUREAUCRACY MAKES POLICY (CONT’D) D. CITIZEN SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPS DEMANDED VARIOUS SERVICES AND PROGRAMS E. ONCE CREATED, GOVT AGENCIES ALMOST NEVER DIE

INFLUENCING BUREAUCRATIC DECISIONS A. CONGRESS HAS AN IMPORTANT INFLUENCE OVER BUREAUCRATS. B. CONGRESS CAN INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING IN FEDERAL AGENCIES C. CONGRESS’ MAIN POWER OVER THE BUREAUCRACY IS ITS CONTROL OF AGENCIES’ BUDGET D. CITIZENS MAY CHALLENGE AGENCIES’ ACTIONS IN COURTS.

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIENT GROUPS A. FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE CLIENT GROUPS THAT TRY TO INFLUENCE DECISIOSNS. B. THE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES, CLIENT GROUPS, AND A FEDERAL AGENCY OR DEPT IS REFERRED TO AS AN IRON TRIANGLE.