THE BUREAUCR

ACY

•All of the bureaucratic agencies are created by Congress and funded by Congress.

Types of Agencies

• Executive Departments-

created to help the Pres.

develop & carry out policy

Examples—Dept. of DefenseDept. of CommerceState Dept.Dept. of Education

• Each agency is headed by a Pres. Appointee that is a member of his cabinet.

• The vast majority of employees in these agencies are full time civil servants

• Regulatory Agencies—created to regulate a

sector of the economy.

They are to make & enforce rules to protect the public interest such as the Securities & Exchange Commission making sure that no one cheats in selling or buying stocks—Martha Stewart.

Examples—Federal Reserve Board, Security & Exchange

Commission, Federal Communications Commission

• These Regulatory Agencies are governed by a commission of 5-10 members that are appointed by the President & approved by the Senate.

• The members are more independent than other agencies. They can not be fired for political reasons like members of the Cabinet. This allows these agencies tomake rules without too much political interference.

• Government Corporations—provide a service that could be provided by a private company. The Gov’t Corp. can provide the service at a cheaper price.

• Ex-Post Office

• Like the Ex. Depts., the heads of the Gov’t Corps are appointed by the Pres & approved by the Senate.

• Independent Agencies are “none of the above” meaning that they are agencies that fit in none of the other catagories.

• EX-NASA

CIVIL SERVICE• Most of the employees in

the federal bureaucracy are full time employees—they don’t lose their jobs when we elect a new president.

• Originally, you became a civil servant through patronage.

• After the Garfield assassination, Congress passed the Pendleton Act, which made the Civil Service merit based.

IRON TRIANGLES

• This term refers to the relationship between Interest Groups, Congress & Executive Agencies

House Ag. Committee

Cotton Farmers Association

Department ofAgriculture

House Ag. Committee

Cotton Farmers Association

House Ag. Committee can provide: policy info support casework accessto the Cotton Farmers Assoc.

Cotton Farmers Assoc can provide: info election endorsement election contributionsto the members of the HouseAg. Committee

House Ag. Committee

Dept. of Ag.

The Ag. Committeecan provide: money-budget info support

The Dept. of Ag can provide: information help with casework

Cotton FarmersAssoc

Dept. of Ag.

The Dept. of Ag. can provide: information, rules on cotton production,deliver services—subsidies, loan programs

The Cotton Farmers Assoc can provide: information,support for the Dept. with Congress

ISSUE NETWORKS

• Issue Networks are more complex iron triangles with more “players”.

ISSUE NETWORKSCongressional committees: Agriculture,

Appropriations, Environment & Public Works

Dept. of Ag.

Interest Groups: -Cotton Farmers -Environmentalists -Foreign textile groups

The Media Educational experts

Environmental Protection Agency