THE BUREAUCRACY

MR. LIPMAN’S AP GOVERNMENT

POWERPOINT FOR CHAPTER NINE

Keys to the “4th “ Branch

Since it links all 3 branches together it is sometimes referred to as the 4th branch (POLICY IS KEY)

Spoils System

Pendleton Act (1883)

Civil Service Merit System (90% of all Federal workers)

COMMISSIONS

ICC was the first (created to end price fixing by railroads)

Large rise in Federal Workers during depression and LBJ’s War on Poverty (crisis or social change increases jobs and presidential power)

Hatch Act passed 1939 to reduce gov’t workers involvement in politics but is weakened in 1993

• Hatch Act of 1939– Prohibits civil servants from taking activist roles

in partisan campaigns – federal employees cannot make political contributions, work for a particular party, or campaign for a particular candidate

• Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993– Liberalizes Hatch Act – federal employees can run

for office in nonpartisan elections and contribute money to campaigns in partisan elections

Government Workers and Political Involvement

The Cabinet Departments

15 departments (Homeland most recent)

All but senior people are civil service merit system hires

Cabinet heads (Secy’s) are appointed by President, and confirmed by Senate, but responsible to their departments (“going native”)

Some departments are actually Clientele Agencies { promote interests of a given group; for example Dept. of Agriculture, Education, and Veteran Affairs}

Implementation is the process by which a policy/law will be actually put into operation by the agency

4 Different Types of Oversight

Gov’t Corporations: Businesses established by Congress to perform a function that otherwise would be done by pvt. Business. (ex: FDIC or TVA or Post Office or Amtrak)

Independent Executive Agencies: usually perform services not regulatory functions (ex: NASA, EPA, CIA, GSA, SBA)

Independent Regulatory Commissions: created to regulate a specific economic activity or interest (ex: SEC or FED or FCC or NRC or FTC)

Cabinet Posts: 15 of them (example: Treasury)

Which agency provides electricity to millions of Americans at reduced

rates?

1.Environmental Protection Agency2.National Association of Electricians Agency3.Teamsters Union4.Tennessee Valley Authority5.Securities and Exchange Commission

Which agency provides electricity to millions of Americans at reduced

rates?

1.Environmental Protection Agency2.National Association of Electricians Agency3.Teamsters Union4.Tennessee Valley Authority5.Securities and Exchange Commission

The Iron Triangle

AgenciesCongressional CommitteesInterest Groups

RESULT OF ALL THESE DECISION MAKING BODIES IS POLICY MAKING

Recently becoming known as “issue networks”

What is an iron triangle?

1.Tools of bureaucratic agencies with which they “round up” support for their initiatives

2.Tools of Congress used to “round up” support for their initiatives

3.The relationship structure among bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees

4.Places in the bureaucratic hierarchy that keep employees in lower level positions

5.Overwhelmingly unconstitutional bureaucratic tools

What are iron triangles?

1.Tools of bureaucratic agencies with which they “round up” support for their initiatives

2.Tools of Congress used to “round up” support for their initiatives

3.The relationship structure among bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees

4.Places in the bureaucratic hierarchy that keep employees in lower level positions

5.Overwhelmingly unconstitutional bureaucratic tools

What are iron triangles?

• Executive control– Executive orders

• Congressional control– Constitutional

authority– Funding– Oversight hearings

Police patrol Fire alarm

• Judicial control– Injunctions

Making Agencies Accountable

To Learning Objectives

What’s the difference between police patrol oversight and fire alarm oversight?

1.Police patrol oversight done by Congress, and fire alarm oversight done by Judiciary.

2.Police patrol oversight is constitutional, and fire alarm oversight is not.

3.Police patrol oversight done by Congress, and fire alarm oversight done by president.

4.Police patrol oversight responds to crimes, and fire alarm oversight responds to natural disasters.

5.Police patrol oversight is proactive, and fire alarm oversight is reactive.

What’s the difference between police patrol oversight and fire alarm oversight?

1.Police patrol oversight done by Congress, and fire alarm oversight done by Judiciary.

2.Police patrol oversight is constitutional, and fire alarm oversight is not.

3.Police patrol oversight done by Congress, and fire alarm oversight done by president.

4.Police patrol oversight responds to crimes, and fire alarm oversight responds to natural disasters.

5.Police patrol oversight is proactive, and fire alarm oversight is reactive.

Congressional Oversight

1. Investigatory Powers2. “Power of the Purse” (GAO and

CBO)3. Appointment process4. Enactment of Laws5. Abolishment Power

Key Terms

Administrative DiscretionAdministrative AdjudicationExecutive OrdersRed TapePlum Book (top cabinet employee listings)General Schedule (salary guide)Dept. of Defense (largest single employer of

federal civilian workers by a dept. or agency)

Where do federal employees work?