1. CH. 15 GOVERNMENT AT WORK: THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
CH THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

2. WHAT IS A BUREAUCRACY?
BUREAUCRACY—large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization
Example jobs—deliver mail, regulate business practices, collect taxes, etc.
Bureaucracies are found wherever there are large organizations

3. THREE FEATURES OF A BUREAUCRACY
1) Hierarchical authority
An organizational structure resembling a pyramid
2) Job specialization
Each employee has defined duties and responsibilities
3) Formalized Rules
People must work according to a set of established rules

4. THE BENEFITS OF A BUREAUCRACY
Most effective way for people to work together on large and complex tasks
Job specialization promotes efficiency
Formalized rules means people can work faster due to an established set of rules
Very important point about public bureaucracies:

5. Bureaucracies hold appointive offices
Bureaucrats are UNELECTED public-policy makers
A democracy depends on how effectively the bureaucracy is controlled by those whom the people do elect.

6. MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
The means by which the government makes and administers public policies
(chart p. 417)
President is chief administrator of the federal government
Executive departments are not required by Article II but they are suggested
Constitution anticipated two departments

7. One for the military (commander in chief)
One for foreign affairs (ability to make treaties)
The executive branch is divided into 3 broad groups:
--Executive Office of the President
--Executive Departments
--Independent agencies

8. THE NAME GAME “Department”—reserved for cabinet level agencies
Other titles used by lower level parts of government—agency (EPA), administration (NASA), commission (FTC), corporation (FDIC), and authority (TVA)
Some parts are referred to as “alphabet soup”
EPA, IRS, FBI, CIA, FCC, TVA
Others by nicknames—Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)

9. STAFF AND LINE AGENCIES
Staff Agencies—serve in a support capacity
Aid the chief executive and other administrators
Line Agencies—actually perform tasks for a particular agency
Congress and the President give line agencies goals to meet
Staff agencies help line agencies meet those goals

10. Examples of staff agencies:
White House office, National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget
Examples of line agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission
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