The Federal Bureaucracy

…or, How Do You Spell F-U-N?

What is a “bureaucracy”?

• Let’s start by breaking the word down into two parts…

• The first part you see at the left…

What is a “bureaucracy”?• And we know the second

half of the word, “cracy” means “to rule”.

• So together, the word bureau-cracy literally means– “to rule from a desk”

• The idea is that government workers, who often work at desks, are essentially “ruling us”…– As we shall see, this is

actually not too far from the truth

– Scary, eh?

What is a “bureaucracy”?• A large, complex group

organized according to a certain structure

• What is the purpose of a bureaucracy?– To efficiently and

effectively accomplish the goals and carry out the everyday operations of an organization

What is a “b’ucy”?

• I like to refer to it by a shortened name…it also helps with the difficult spelling.– If you know who

this person is, then you’re halfway there…

Features of a “B’ucy”• Hierarchical Organization – pyramid structure with

fewer, more powerful individuals at the top, and more, less powerful individuals at each lower level– Information flows up, decisions and policies flow

down

Peters Township School District Central Office

Bower HillMcMurray

PTHSPTMS

Pleasant Valley

Principal

Assistant Principle

Assistant Principal

SS English Math ScienceFL

Tech Ed

Mr. Scott

Mrs. Thearle

Mr. Redilla

HAG -Period

2

HAG Period

3

HAG Period

4

Custodial CafeteriaGuidance

HAG Period 5

Features of a “B’ucy”• Job Specialization – bureaucrats each

perform a certain task• Increases efficiency (*Division of labor)

Features of a “B’ucy”• Established

Regulations – communicate/ act according to a set of standard rules– “Chain of

command” must be followed, for example

Features of a “B’ucy”• Formal Rules- for hiring, firing and

promoting employees – - The Civil Service System – merit-based,

not political

The Federal “B’ucy”• All of the agencies,

departments and organizations that help the government do its work – Implementation – to “carry out

the laws”

The Federal “B’ucy”

• Divided into 3 basic parts– Executive

(Cabinet) departments

– Independent Executive Agencies

– The Executive Office of the President

Executive Office of

the President

Executive Deapartments "The Cabinet"

The Executive Branch

("The President")

- The "Right Arm" of the President

- Several agencies staffed by the

President's closest advisors

Independent Agencies - Number in the 100's

- Deal with specific areas/activities outside the scope

of the Cabinet depts.- Report directly to the

President

White House Office

Council of Economic Advisors Other Key

Executive Agencies

Justice HS

- 15 Departments headed by a Secretary

- Do most of the work of the Executive

branch- Broken down into

subunits

National Security Council

NASA

CIA

EPAFEC

SSA

State Defense

Peace Corps

Problems with the Fed “B’ucy”

Red Tape • "any official

routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction."

Existence of complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done.

Problems with the Fed “B’ucy”• Conflict - when some agencies work at

cross-purposes with other agencies.

Problems with the Fed “B’ucy”• Duplication - when two government agencies seem

to be doing the same thing

Problems with the Fed “B’ucy”

Waste• When an agency spends more than is necessary to buy some product or service.