1. 6-4: Working with the Bureaucracy

2. Big Idea: Competing Policymaking Interests
Enduring Understanding:
The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

3. Learning Objectives: Explain how Congress uses its oversight power in its relationship with the executive branch. Explain how the president ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities in concert with the goals of the administration. Explain the extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable given the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts.

4. The President and the Bureaucracy
Appointments
Selects senior agency heads and subheads
Influences the major direction of the agency
Must be approved by Senate
Contributes to some degree of independence
Not necessarily the president’s first choice

5. The President and the Bureaucracy
Executive Orders
Directive issued by the president
Carried out by the bureaucracy
Economic Powers
OMB can add or cut an agency’s funding in its budget proposals
However, Congress has sole power to appropriate funds

6. Divided Authority
Both the president and Congress have authority over the bureaucracy
Checks and balances

7. Congress Legislative Oversight Hearings/investigations
Reorganizing agencies
Changing guidelines
Spreading out responsibilities
Budgetary control (Appropriations Cmt.)