The Federal Bureaucracy

Origin And Structure

Types of Federal Agencies Cabinet (executive) departments – Directly accountable to the president Independent agencies – CIA, NSA Regulatory Agencies – Sec, Federal Reserve Board, FEC Government corporations – AMTRAK, US Post Office, FDIC Presidential commissions

Federal Employment Pendleton Act – Merit System – Civil Service Commission Merit system – Selection and promotion based on exams Patronage system Spoils system Neutral competence Taft-Hartley Act 1947 Hatch Act 1939 – Prohibits federal employees from active involvement in political campaigns Civil Service Reform Act 1978 – Created the Office of Personnel Management & abolished the Civil Service Commission

The Budgetary Process

President and Agency Budgets 1. process begins in executive branch 2. Agencies work on budgets 3. OMB reviews agency proposals 4. OMB prepares final budget for president

Congress and the Agency Budgets 5. President submits proposal to Congress 6. Congress adopts budget resolution 7. Congress completes work on appropriations bills 8. Fiscal year starts

Policy and Power in the Bureaucracy Policy implementation: – Administrative agencies’ main task – Carries out decisions made by Congress, the president, and the courts Initiate policy Develop policy Evaluate it Apply it Decide whether others are complying with it

Agency Point of View Bureaucrats place their interests of their agency ahead of other interests and priorities sought by Congress and the president.

Sources of Bureaucratic Power Power of Expertise Power of Clientele Groups – Special interest groups that benefit directly from the activities of the bureaucratic agency Power of Friends in High Places

Democracy and Bureaucratic Accountability

Accountability through the Presidency Can launch broad initiatives Executive orders Management tools: – Reorganization Presidential Appointments OMB:

Accountability through Congress “power of the purse” Oversight function – GAO “watchdog” Draft more detailed laws – Enabling provisions – Sunset provisions Termination of a program unless reauthorized by Congress

Accountability through the Courts

Accountability within the Bureaucracy Itself Senior Executive Service Administrative Law Judges Whistleblowing – Whistleblower Protection Act Demographic Representatives Freedom of Information Act – Requires federal agencies to disclose any information on file