Executive Branch

Over 2 million employees-by far the larges single employer in the US –Civil servants or bureaucrats Departments within the Fed –P. 277 plus Homeland Security Executive Agencies-do a specific job –P. 277 Regulatory Agencies-set up to protect citizens. Some would say business –P. 277 Regulation vs. Deregulation

Civil Service-system that regulates the hiring of government employees –“spoils system”-Jackson –Pendleton Act created Civil Service System in 1883 –Take exam General questions and questions on specific field Must get passing score of 70 –Scores are ranked –Study guides like SAT Over 50 applicants for each position, likely more now Benefits –Job security –Medical –Retirement –Salary based on ranking GS1-18

–Relationship between appointees and merit employees Pres appoints about 2000 people Public policy-decisions that government makes to do or not do something –Politicians make decisions but bureaucrats implement them Bureaucracy also influences decision-making process –Over 1000 different federal programs 535 legislators can’t stay on top of this many projects Each agency has a client group that it serves and these become political forces behind the agency Biggest power Congress has over the bureaucracy is the power of the budget