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The Government at Work

The Government at Work. The Bureaucracy Chapter 15. Bureaucracy. Large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization In gov’t – includes those non-elected positions Efficient & effective way to organize

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The Government at Work

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  1. The Government at Work The Bureaucracy Chapter 15

  2. Bureaucracy • Large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization • In gov’t – includes those non-elected positions • Efficient & effective way to organize • Yet often criticized for being slow & inefficient & sometimes inhumane • 3 Features of a bureaucracy • Hierarchical authority • Job specialization – each bureaucrat • Formalized rules

  3. Federal Bureaucracy • Today: 4.1 million work for the federal gov’t (2013) • Most in the executive branch • Divided into three areas in Executive Branch • Executive Office of the President • Executive Departments – 15 cabinet departments • Independent Agencies • (See page 429) • Remember – Congress & federal court system have their own bureaucracies

  4. Its all in a name… • Department – Cabinet level departments • Agency, administration – major unit, near –Cabinet status • Commission – typically connected to business activities • Also can be investigative & advisory bodies • Corporation, authority – conduct “business-like” activities often w/ a board & a manager • Bureau – major element of “it” • Can also be called service, administration, office, branch, division

  5. Staff vs. Line agencies • Staff agencies – are the support personnel • Line agencies – actually perform the tasks • In gov’t – we see the line agencies doing the work • Staff agencies in gov’t help them do this through advising, budgeting, purchasing, management & planning • EPA is a line agency • National Security Council is a staff agency

  6. Executive Office of the President - EOP • “the President’s right arm” • Several separate agencies staffed by approx. 1800 to help the President be chief executive (2013) • White House Office • National Security Council • Office of Management & Budget • Office of National Drug Control Policy • Council of Economic Advisors …& more

  7. White House Office • President’s key personal & political staff • “the West Wing” - Near the Oval Office & Cabinet Room • Chief of Staff, Press Secretary • Counselor to the President, senior advisors • Deputy assistants – foreign policy, defense, homeland security, the economy, political affairs, congressional relations, speech writing • Appointment & Scheduling Assistant, Physician • 1st Lady’s Chief of Staff & press secretary

  8. National Security Council • Staff agency that advises President on domestic & military matters and on most foreign policy issues; often at short notice • VP, National Security Advisor, Secretaries of State, Treasury, Defense; may also include Director of National Intelligence & Chairman of Joint Chiefs • Has small staff of experts • Much of their work is super top secret • All have highest level of security clearances

  9. Office of Management & Budget • OMB – largest & 2nd most influential unit in the Executive Office • Primary goal – preparing annual Federal Budget • Federal fiscal year – Oct 1st thru Sept 30th • Each agency submits budget requests • OMB reviews & crafts President’s proposed budget • Then monitors gov’t spending • Also oversees the agencies enforcing laws & double checks legislative proposals to make sure they are in line with the President’s policy positions • Assists preparing executive orders & veto messages

  10. Rest of the EOP • Office of National Drug Control Policy • Council of Economic Advisors • Helps prepare annual Economic Report to Congress • Domestic Policy Council • Council on Environmental Quality • Office of the Vice President • Office of the US Trade Representative • Office of Science & Technology • Office of Administration

  11. The Cabinet • Executive Departments authorized by Congress • Today: 15, newest is Homeland Security • Heads are called Secretaries, except for Attorney General for DoJ • Serve as primary between the departments & President • Under or Deputy secretaries & assistant secretaries also appointed by the President • Each department divided into subunits & often even smaller groupings than that • Both staff agencies & line agencies

  12. Picking the Cabinet • Nominated by the President • Confirmed by the Senate • Factors considered include: • Supporters of the President • Professional qualifications & experience • Balancing geography • Interest groups • Management style • More recently – gender, race, ethnicity considerations

  13. What you will do… • Receive your Cabinet assignment • Research & be ready to report back on the following: • Purpose or mission of department • At least one Current event of the department • Roles of the deputy/ under secretaries • Subunits of the department • Current budget and # of employees • *** ½ page report for classmates is advised***

  14. Independent Agencies • Agencies not connected to any of the 15 executive departments • They do not fit within any of the given departments • Sometimes to protect them from politics • Some need to be as they are regulatory commissions • Of course, still answer to the President • But several are free of Presidential control • Three main groups of independent agencies…

  15. 1 - Independent Executive Agencies • Include most of the non-Cabinet agencies • Include very large “near-Cabinet” status ones • General Services Adm. (GSA); NASA, EPA • Include some that do good works & get good PR • Peace Corps, Small Business Adm., NTSB • Some get very little notice & are relatively small • American Battle Monuments Commission

  16. 2 – Independent Regulatory Commissions • 11 agencies that regulate important aspects of the nation’s economy • These are largely beyond the President’s control • Congress designed them to be so independent • Boards or commissions have 5-7 members with staggered terms • Must have both major parties represented • Also have quasi- legislative & judicial powers • Make regulations & impose fines & penalties • See page 447 for the 11 of these…

  17. 3 – Gov’t Corporations • Set up by Congress to carry out business-like activities & are under the President’s control • Today more than 50 of them exist • Resembles a private business • Has a board of directors & general manager • Any income goes back into itself • Difference: funded by the Gov’t & subject to review by the OMB • FDIC, US Postal Service, Amtrak, TVA

  18. Working for the Gov’t • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) oversees all federal employees • Is an Independent Executive Agency • Is a staff agency • Civil Service System – from the Pendleton Act, 1883 • 90% of federal employees are in the “classified service” • So must take the Civil Service Exam • (Different from the Selective Service System = the draft • Males, 18 – 26 years old must still be registered)

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