Executive Branch Chapter 15 The Bureaucracy – Government at Work Ms. Shay – Political Science

What is a Bureaucracy? It isn’t just red tape waste, and delay as An efficient and effective way to organize people to do work It isn’t just red tape waste, and delay as many people think.

Features and Benefits of a Bureaucracy Hierarchical Authority Speeds action/no conflict over who makes decisions Job Specialization Promotes efficiency Formalized Rules Decisions are based on known standards 4. Bureaucrats – appointed not elected!

Federal Bureaucracy All of the agencies people and procedures through which the Federal Government operates Located in the executive branch Constitution is silent on who will help the President “execute” the laws except for suggesting a State & Defense Department Policies need to be administered by people other than the President

Three Agencies of The Executive Branch Executive Office of the President Executive Departments (15) (Cabinet) Independent Agencies See page 417 in your textbook.

1.Executive Office of the President “EOP” Right Arm of the President Consists of closest advisors and assistants FDR established it in 1939 and is constantly reorganized by each Pres.

A. White House Office Most important part of EOP Includes: chief of staff, legal advisor, press secretary, physician, and many assistants 400 total members today

B. National Security Council “NSC” Advises on all domestic, foreign, and military matters related to national security. Includes: President Vice President Secretary of State, Treasury, and Defense Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Director of National Intelligence (DNI) They work under the National Security Advisor.

C. Office of Management and Budget “OMB” 2nd most influential unit Prepares the federal budget A detailed estimate of income and expenditures for the fiscal year. Fiscal year runs from Oct 1 – Sept 30. Expression of public policy in $ Monitors spending of funds

Other EOP Agencies Office of National Drug Control Policy – headed by the nation’s “drug czar” who prepares strategy (1989) Council of Economic Advisors – 3 leading economists chosen by Pres. (Warren Buffet will be one for Obama)

Other EOP Agencies The Office of Policy Development The Council of Environmental Quality The Office of VP The Office of US Trade Representative The Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Administration The Office of Faith Based Community Initiatives The Office of Homeland Security

2. Executive Department “Cabinet” Original Departments were: State Treasury War (now called Defense) Now there are 15. Homeland Security is the most recently created one in 2002 Departments are headed by a Secretary 4. Department of Justice headed by Attorney General

Other Cabinet Departments 5. Interior 6.Agriculture 7. Commerce 8. Labor 9. Health & Human Services 10. Housing & Urban Development 11. Transportation 12. Energy 13. Education 14. Veterans Affairs

How the Pres Chooses Cabinet Party affiliation Personal qualifications and practical experience Geographical balance Various interest groups influence decision Gender and race

William Howard Taft “The Constitution contains no suggestion of a meeting of all the department heads, in consultation over general governmental matters. The Cabinet is a mere creation of the President’s will…It exists only by custom. If the President desired to dispense with it, he could do so.”

3. Independent Agencies Three Types The independent executive agencies – do important work but don’t have Cabinet status. Ex: NASA, EPA The independent regulatory commissions – 10 agencies with no presidential direction, created to regulate or police important aspects of economy The government corporations – FDIC, AMTRAK, TVA,

Independent agencies Additional agencies of the Executive Branch found outside the Cabinet Departments Why Independent Agencies? Some do not fit well within any Cabinet Department. Some need protection from the influence of partisan and pressure politics. Some were born as independent by accident.

Tidbits of Information 2.7 million employees of executive administration 1.4 million people in the military Most employees are career people not politicians Only the bosses change when a new president is elected Appointments must be approved by Senate 90% of employees work outside of D.C.