Government Chapter 10 The cabinet and the Federal Bureaucracy

Executive Branch The President and “stuff” “stuff” – Cabinet departments (15) Smaller agencies within each Department – Independent agencies – Regulatory Commissions – Government corporations

Federal Bureaucracy Federal bureaucracy – the term for the hundreds of agencies within the executive branch. Bureaucrats – civil servants who work within the federal bureaucracy Hatch Act – legislation which limits the involvement of federal employees in elections Iron triangle – alliances between congressional committees, interest groups and executive agencies.

Iron Triangle

Civil Service System Spoils system – the old system of giving government jobs to friends and political allies regardless of their qualifications Merit based system – Using qualifications as a basis for awarding jobs Pendleton Act – Legislation that created the civil service system and eliminated the spoils system Civil service exam – the test required to qualify for jobs in the federal bureaucracy Office of Personnel Management (OPM) – the agency in charge of hiring employees for the federal bureaucracy

Cabinet Departments department of Agriculture – assists farmers, develops conservation programs, and provides financial credit to farmers department of Commerce – promotes and protects industry and regulates businesses department of Defense – manages the armed services for the United States

Cabinet Departments cont. department of Energy – plans energy policy and researches alternative power sources Department of the Interior – protects public land and natural resources and handles relations with Native Americans Department of Justice – Oversees the nations legal affairs – contains the FBI Department of Labor – protects American workers, ensures safe working conditions and sets the minimum wage

Cabinet Departments cont. Department of State – staffs embassies and handles foreign affairs Department of Transportation – regulates all aspects of American Transportation needs including airlines Department of Treasury – manages monetary resources; handles money Department of Homeland Security – secure the nation from the many threats that we face, including terrorism. – Includes the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and many other agencies.

Cabinet Departments cont. Department of Veteran's Affairs – assists former military personnel and runs hospitals for them Department of Health and Human Services – oversees the implementation of "Obamacare" Department of Housing and Urban Development – educates Americans to avoid foreclosures Department of Education – provides research and funding for schools

Government Corporations U.S. Postal Service (USPS) – A government corporation that uses its profits to keep itself running. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)FDIC – government corporation operating as an independent agency that protects banks Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – federally owned corporation that provides electricity and power in rural areas

Independent Regulatory Agencies Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)EPA Federal Communications Commission (FCC)FCC – independent regulatory agency that monitors radio and television broadcasts

Independent Agencies Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – Makes rules for the stock market – Prevents cheating Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)CIA – an independent agency that helps other executive agencies within the federal bureaucracy by gathering information