6-4: Working with the Bureaucracy

Big Idea: Competing Policymaking Interests   Enduring Understanding: The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

Learning Objectives: Explain how Congress uses its oversight power in its relationship with the executive branch. Explain how the president ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities in concert with the goals of the administration. Explain the extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable given the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts.

The President and the Bureaucracy Appointments Selects senior agency heads and subheads Influences the major direction of the agency Must be approved by Senate Contributes to some degree of independence Not necessarily the president’s first choice

The President and the Bureaucracy Executive Orders Directive issued by the president Carried out by the bureaucracy Economic Powers OMB can add or cut an agency’s funding in its budget proposals However, Congress has sole power to appropriate funds

Divided Authority Both the president and Congress have authority over the bureaucracy Checks and balances

Congress Legislative Oversight Hearings/investigations Reorganizing agencies Changing guidelines Spreading out responsibilities Budgetary control (Appropriations Cmt.)