The Federal Bureaucracy

1. The Federal Bureaucracy What is a bureaucracy, and how does it affect our daily lives?

2. Bureaucracy • A large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization • Federal Government = nation’s largest employer; about 3 million men and women carry out the daily work of our government

3. Features of a Bureaucracy • 1.) Hierarchical authority – pyramid-shaped organization in which the chain-of-command runs from the top to the bottom • The higher the job on the pyramid, the more authority that person has in making final decisions that shape public policy

4. Features of a Bureaucracy • 2.) Job Specialization – Clear-cut Division of labor • Each bureaucrat has specific responsibilities • Promotes efficiency

5. Features of a Bureaucracy • 3.) Formalized Roles – Work is carried out in a procedural way • Regulations or standards are followed by each bureaucrat to complete a specific task

6. Primary Task • The primary task of the Bureaucracy is…. • Implementation • The efforts of departments and agencies to translate the goals and objectives of a policy in an operating, ongoing program

7. Implementation • Congress is fond of stating a broad policy goal in legislation and then leaving implementation up to the Bureaucracies….. • Why? • Specialization • Shifting Blame

8. Implementation • Rule Making • Quasi-legislative process by which the government agencies produce regulations • Administrative Adjudication • Applying Rules and Precedents to specific cases to settle disputes between regulated parties

9. Federal Employees • What “bureaucrats” do: • Regulate business practices • Deliver the mail • Clean the streets • Conduct social security programs • Collect taxes • Carry out U.S. foreign policy • Manage parks and national forests

10. Who is the bureaucracy accountable too? Created by Congress Appointed by President Funded by Congress Governed by the president Paid for by the taxpayer

11. Making Agencies Accountable • President has authority to • Appoint and remove agency heads • Reorganize the bureaucracy • Make changes in budget proposals • Issue executive orders • Reduce an agency’s budget • Congress has the Authority to • Pass laws that alter an agency’s functions • Abolish existing programs • Investigate activities • Limit the use of funds • Write legislation to limit the Bureaucracy

12. By the People • Freedom of Information Act • 1966- Allowed citizens the right to inspect all government documents except intelligence reports