Friday March 7, 2014  OBJ: SWBAT demonstrate their understanding of IRA’s by creating their own Iron Triangle.  Drill: What are some ways to regulate (control) the Beauraucracy?  HW: Vocab due Monday

Review of Independent Agencies  Take notes on what exactly IRA are, there has been some confusion.

Three Types of Independent Agencies  (1) The independent executive agencies  (2) The independent regulatory commissions  (3) The government corporations

The label “independent agency” is a catchall  Most of these agencies are independent only in the sense that they are not located within any of the 15 cabinet departments. They are not independent of the President and the executive branch. Executive agencies like NASA, and Government Corporations like The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) They are not independent of the President and the executive branch. Executive agencies like NASA, and Government Corporations like The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Independent Regulatory Commissions are largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an example. Independent Regulatory Commissions are largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an example.

 Independent agencies are located outside of the executive departments.  Today there are nearly 150. Examples: Examples: CIACIA Federal Reserve SystemFederal Reserve System Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionEqual Employment Opportunity Commission Consumer Product Safety CommissionConsumer Product Safety Commission NASANASA

Reasons these agencies exist outside of the cabinet departments are nearly as numerous as the agencies themselves.  Some have been set up outside the executive departments because they don’t fit well with any department. Office of Personnel Management (hiring agency for the federal gov’t.) Office of Personnel Management (hiring agency for the federal gov’t.)

Reasons Continued  Congress has given some of these agencies independent status to protect them from the influence of “politics.” Social Security Administration Social Security Administration Office of Personnel Management Office of Personnel Management Federal Election Commission Federal Election Commission

Reasons Continued  Some agencies are independent because of the peculiar and sensitive nature of their functions. Especially the independent regulatory commissions. Especially the independent regulatory commissions. Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission Nuclear Regulatory CommissionNuclear Regulatory Commission Consumer Product Safety CommissionConsumer Product Safety Commission

Regulatory Commissions have certain powers given to them  Quasi-legislative powers: quasi-legislative powers are used in rule making and regulatory functions and have the force of law. quasi-legislative powersquasi-legislative powers  Quasi-judicial powers: powers resembling those of a court of law or judge; able to remedy a situation or impose legal penalties on a person or organization. Quasi-judicial powers are exercised when disputes are decided in those fields in which Congress has given policing authority, i.e., EPA is a good example. court of lawjudgecourt of lawjudge

Regulatory Commissions Continued These regulatory bodies possess all three powers - executive, legislative, and judicial - and are exceptions to the principle of separation of powers. These regulatory bodies possess all three powers - executive, legislative, and judicial - and are exceptions to the principle of separation of powers. The power of the regulatory commissions is controversial and had been decreased under Presidents Reagan and Bush. [They believed in a weaker federal government]. The power of the regulatory commissions is controversial and had been decreased under Presidents Reagan and Bush. [They believed in a weaker federal government]. Congress has attempted to protect independent regulatory agencies from political influence by requiring that each agency be led by a group of commissioners representing both major political parties. Congress has attempted to protect independent regulatory agencies from political influence by requiring that each agency be led by a group of commissioners representing both major political parties.

Capture  Over the last several decades some observers contend that many independent regulatory agencies have been captured by the very industries they are supposed to regulate.  The result is less competition, higher prices and less choice.

Deregulation and Reregulation  Under Carter and then Reagan: deregulation of the airline industry  Under Bush (41): Regulation of many businesses increased due to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Clean Air Act Amendments, Cable Reregulation Act 1992  Clinton eliminated the Interstate Commerce Commission, deregulated banking and telecommunications, but increased environmental regulations  Repeal of Glass-Steagall Act (GSA) This act separated investment and commercial banking activities. At the time, "improper banking activity", or what was considered overzealous commercial bank involvement in stock market investment, was deemed the main culprit of the financial crash of Glass-Steagall Actcommercial bankingGlass-Steagall Actcommercial banking

Independent Regulatory Agencies Scenarios, get your IRA sheets out, for each scenario choose which agencies would deal with it

Janet Jackson has a “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl.

Prescription medicine is being imported from other Countries because it is cheaper. However, testing isn’t done by U.S. standards.

 Two children are kidnapped in Maryland and taken to their mother’s house in Pennsylvania. Maryland police say they don’t have the power to enter PA to find the kids.

A leather tanning facility is poisoning a local stream with chemicals. Many children in the area get very sick.

Some people feel that overly violent/sexual programming should be removed from pay- cable television (HBO, Showtime, etc).

Vioxx, a prescription medicine, was found to cause heart failure and could lead to death in some patients.

Commercial vehicles (business use) cause a great deal of pollution from exhaust emissions and they do not have to be tested on a regular basis.

 Two pilots fall asleep while flying a late-night flight from California to New York. Investigators found that many pilots are too tired to fly and they are putting passengers at risk.

 Al Qaeda has several terrorist cells located around the DC area. A person is needed to infiltrate these cells and gather information.

 Many fast-food chains are serving foods that are very high in fat content, calories, and sodium. This is seen as unhealthy by many Americans.

After September 11 th, 2001, investigators found that the pilots’ door was too weak and could easily be broken.

 Aqua Dots, a popular children's toy, is found to contain the date-rape drug GHB. Five children in Australia have eaten the dots and went into comas. These products are also sold in the United States.

What does the phrase, “Old habits die hard” mean? Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not?

V22-Osprey

Interest Group Bureaucracy Congressional Subcommittee Favorable Rulings Information Support for Budget Requests Campaign Money and Support Information Helpful legislation Increased budgets Information Help with Constituent Issues

25 years of development and cost 30 lives and $20 billion. Subcontracts are spread across 45 states and 276 congressional districts which means that nearly two- thirds of all members of Congress have at least some direct interest in the Osprey. V22-Osprey

Wrap Up  What problems do you see with the Iron Triangle?  Is there a way for IRA’s to regulate them? How?