Components of the Federal Bureaucracy

Cabinet Departments 15 Cabinet Departments15 Cabinet Departments –headed by a cabinet secretary –appointed by the president and approved by the Senate –each department is an “expert” in their specific policy area –each department has their own budget ExamplesExamples –State Department –Attorney General –Department of Defense

Independent Executive Agencies established by Congress separate from the executive branchestablished by Congress separate from the executive branch given a specific mandategiven a specific mandate –generally perform a service as opposed to regulation ExamplesExamples –Social Security Administration –Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) –National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) –Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Independent Regulatory Commissions exist to regulate specific economic activity or interestexist to regulate specific economic activity or interest operate independently from Congress and Presidentoperate independently from Congress and President once appointed, members cannot be removed without causeonce appointed, members cannot be removed without cause ExamplesExamples –Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – public air waves (radio, tv, internet, etc.) –Federal Reserve Board (banking system and money supply)

Government Corporations government owned businesses created by Congressgovernment owned businesses created by Congress may or may not be profitable, but serves a public needmay or may not be profitable, but serves a public need ExamplesExamples –U.S. Postal Service –Amtrak –Corporation for Public Broadcasting