1. Federal Bureaucracy
Large complex organization of appointed officials All of the agencies, people, and procedures that the federal government operates 2.1M Civilians 1.4M Military Half of civilian employees work for Dept of defense. 28% work for postal service

2. KEY FEATURES OF A BUREAUCRACY
Hierarchical authority - a chain of command in which authority follows from the top down. Job specialization - each employee has defined duties and responsibilities. Formal rules - all employees must follow established procedures and regulations

3. THE GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
THE SPOILS SYSTEM Originally upper class white males Jackson awarded posts to loyalists “to the victor belong the spoils” The Civil Service The Pendleton Act (1883) - select by merit NOT party Office of Personnel Management (OPM) – hires feds FEDERAL AND STATE EMPLOYEES 3% of jobs, Feds constant since 1950, state and local increased due to block grants and federal mandates

4. ORGANIZATION AND KEY FUNCTIONS
Cabinet- 15 depts. Secretaries Treasury prints currency Develop loyalty to dept and not as close with president THE INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCIES Protect key sectors of the economy The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) are among the best-known independent regulatory agencies Led by small commissions (5-10) - can’t be removed by president during term

5. The Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve Board The Federal Reserve Board's primary responsibility is to set monetary policy. Monetary policy includes setting bank interest rates, controlling inflation, regulating the money supply, and adjusting bank reserve requirements. The Federal Reserve Board has great independence. This freedom removes monetary policy from politics. As a result, the Federal Reserve Board is usually able to use its economic expertise to develop monetary policies without undue interference from political parties and interest groups. Be sure you know the difference between monetary policy and fiscal policy. Monetary policy refers to the money supply and interest rates. The Federal Reserve Board has the primary responsibility for monetary policy. Fiscal policy refers to taxing and spending policies. Both the executive and legislative branches share responsibility for fiscal policies

6. THE GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS
THE GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS Provide a private sector service (post office, TVA, Amtrak) INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE AGENCIES Non-cabinet departments The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Government Services Administration (GSA) are the best known independent executive agencies

7. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATION
Implementation is the translation of policy goals into rules and standard operating procedures Breakdown – Conflicting goals Faulty program design Lack of funding Fragmented responsibilities (pre- homeland security – 46 agencies doing counter terrorism Congress gives a general mandate – agency have discretion to to set guidelines

8. REGULATION
Regulation is the use of governmental authority to control or change practices in the private sector SC upheld right to regulate in Munn v. Illinois(1877)

9. Federal Bureaucracy
APPOINTMENTS President appoints agency heads Senate approves Heads often have loyalties to the department Executive Orders Directive, order, regulation issued by President Examples: Not enforce Pot laws in Colorado Immigration, national parks, etc Based on constitutional or statutory authority

10. CONGRESS AND THE BUREAUCRACY
Under authority of President and congress Creates checks and balances Encourages agencies to play them against each other Oversight - Exercising budgetary control by setting aside funds for each agency. - Holding hearings and conducting investigations. - Reorganizing an agency. - Setting new guidelines for an agency. - Spreading out responsibilities in order to prevent any one agency from becoming too powerful

11. INTEREST GROUPS AND THE BUREAUCRACY
IRON TRIANGLES An iron triangle is an alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. Each member of the iron triangle provides key services, information, or policy for the others. Iron triangles are so pervasive and powerful that they are often called subgovernments

12. ISSUE NETWORKS An issue network includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staffs, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue. The president often fills agency positions with people from an issue network who support his or her views Be sure that you know the difference between an iron triangle and an issue network. An iron triangle has three interlocking points-an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. An issue network consists of a wide range of people who debate major public policies