1 / 15

The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy

8. The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy. Rex Features/AP Images. What is a Bureaucracy?. 8.1. It’s a hierarchical structure consists of the departments, agencies, and offices within the executive branch

dawng
Download Presentation

The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 8 The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy Rex Features/AP Images

  2. What is a Bureaucracy? 8.1 • It’s a hierarchical structure • consists of the departments, agencies, and offices within the executive branch • Each department, agency or person performs a very specific function of government

  3. Roots of the Federal Bureaucracy 8.1 • 3 executive departments existed under the article which Washington inherited: Foreign Affairs (State), Treasury & War (Defense). • Congress soon added Office of Attorney General (Justice) • Bureaucracy grew from as demands increased • Jackson promoted postmaster general to cabinet status and filled positions using spoils system

  4. The Civil War and the Growth of Government Civil War changes Creation of the Department of Agriculture 1862. It gained cabinet status years later in 1889 with soil conservation, livestock breeding and planting became important issues Creation of the Pension Office (for Union vets) Authorization of thousands more employees Justice gained cabinet status by 1870 Permanent changes to the bureaucracy 8.1

  5. From the Spoils System to the Merit System 8.1 • Patronage system (spoils system) • Federal jobs given to loyal supporters • Merit system • Jobs given according to ability • Favoured by Rutherford B. Hayes though changes failed to materialize • Garfield (1880), was killed by a job seeker, said his days were filled, “with the personal seeking of people.” • His death led to Pendleton Act/Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 • Civil Service system • Current system based on merit

  6. Regulating Commerce 8.1 • Growth of big business • Unfair business practices like price fixing led to… • Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in 1887 which became the first… • Independent Regulatory Commission. • Creation of the ICC marked a shift in the focus of the federal bureaucracy from service to regulation. • Employers refused to recognize the rights of employees so… • President Wilson, in 1913, divided Commerce and Labor creating two departments. • Sixteenth Amendment • Federal income tax – huge infusion of funds to support new agencies

  7. The World Wars and the Growth of Government 8.1 • Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) • Social programs during Depression • World War II veterans benefits • G.I. Bill provided college loans • Housing by reducing mortgage rates • Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • Housing and Urban Development • Transportation

  8. 8.1 FIGURE 8.1 How many employees work in the federal executive branch?

  9. Formal Organization 8.2 • Cabinet departments • 15 major administrative units responsible for broad areas of government operations • Independent executive agencies • Have narrower areas of responsibility. These agencies typically perform services rather than regulatory functions. NASA and the EPA are examples • Independent regulatory commissions • Exist outside major departments and regulate a specific economic interest or activity. FCC, NLRB, OSHA, SEC • Government corporations • Businesses that charge a fee for services. USPS, Amtrak

  10. How the Bureaucracy WorksMaking Policy: 8.3 • Administrative Discretion – the ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional, executive intentions or policies • Rule making • Quasi-legislative process • Regulations have force of law. • Administrative adjudication • Quasi-judicial process in which agencies settle disputes between two parties

  11. 8.3 FIGURE 8.4 What constitutes an iron triangle?

  12. 8.4 Table 8.3 How are agencies made accountable?

  13. Executive Control 8.4 • Power to Appoint • Delegating Powers • Challenges with agency responsiveness • Reorganizing the Bureaucracy • Needs Congressional approval • Executive Orders • Directions to agencies that have the force of law

  14. Congressional Control 8.4 • Confirms president's picks for agency heads • Can approve or reject • Oversight and Investigations • Proactive or reactive • Power of the purse • Controls the budget

  15. Judicial Control 8.4 • Injunctions or orders • Even before a rule is publicized • Requires due process • Individuals can litigate. • Specialized courts • Have expertise in certain issues

More Related