The Federal Bureaucracy Mr. Stroman US Government

The Bureaucracy The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs Three main functions: –Implementation –Administration –Regulation (quasi-legislative and judicial)

Max Weber’s Ideal Characteristics Division of labor Hierarchy Formal rules Maintenance of files and records Professionalism

Constitutional Basis Not explicit Article II, Section 2 –“all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for.” Article II, Section 3 –“take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission the officers of the United States.” Most think these give Congress the power to delegate to agencies

Bureaucrats 4 MILLION employees! Presidents can only appoint 3% of them Most chosen by merit, NOT elected Not just paper-pushers

Organization of Bureaucratic Agencies Specialization Pizza  What agencies could be involved here?

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies Cabinet departments –14, each headed by Secretaries (except Justice) –Secretaries are appointed by President and confirmed by Senate –Each has own budget, staff, and is “expert” in some policy area

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies Executive Office of the President –Members appointed by President (NOT confirmed by Senate) –Often prime policy makers in their fields –Close relationship to the President

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies Independent Agencies –Two types: Executive- like Cabinet, but narrower focus Regulatory- outside of major departments and regulate particular economic interests or activities

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies Government Corporations –Established by Congress to perform functions that could otherwise be performed by private companies

Staff and Line Agencies Term for units that make up administrative organizations Staff agencies serve in a support capacity Line agencies actually perform the organization’s tasks For example, the National Security Council is a staff agency, because it supports the President The Environmental Protection Agency is a line agency, because it actually does the work of day-to- day enforcement of federal pollution standards