Gov 12 Bureaucracy

Standards:

Strand: Civics and Government

Content Standard III: Students understand the ideals, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship and understand the content and history of the founding documents of the United States with particular emphasis on the United States and New Mexico constitutions and how governments function at local, state, tribal, and national levels. Students will:

9-12 Benchmark 3-A: compare and analyze the structure, power and purpose of government at the local, state, tribal and national levels as set forth in their respective constitutions or governance documents:

III-C.4 Analyze the historical sources and ideals of the structure of the United States government.

Objective:

To find out how the federal bureaucracy operates to help Americans.

WICOR: Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading

The federal bureaucracy.

The bureaucracy.

Key definitions and facts.

Key features of bureaucracy.

The growth of the Federal bureaucracy.

The spoils system.

The civil service.

Federal and state employees.

The federal bureaucracy organization and key functions.

The Cabinet departments.

The Independent Regulatory Agencies.

The government corporations.

Independent executive agencies.

Implementation and regulation.

Implementation.

Regulation.

The president and the bureaucracy.

Appointments.

Executive orders.

Economic powers.

Congress and the bureaucracy.

Divided Authority.

Interest groups in the bureaucracy.

Iron triangles.

Issues Networks.

Essential question:

How is the federal bureaucracy organized to serve Americans, and how do federal agencies carry out their missions?

How might the fact that people are living much longer after retirement affect Social Security benefits in the future?

How do government corporations differ from private businesses?

Why is it important that regulatory commissions be free from political pressures?

What three types of agencies make up the federal bureaucracy?

Concepts in action

Public policy: Imagine that you are on a presidential commission looking into the establishment of a new Executive department. This is important issue facing the country today. Think of a new Executive Department to deal with the issue. Percent your suggestion, with a reason, as well presentation to the commission.

Essential Question

How is the federal bureaucracy organized to serve Americans, and how do federal agencies carry out their missions?

Summary

Section 1 Bureaucratic Organization

The federal bureaucracy is organized into departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and advisory committees. Most belong to the executive branch and were created by an act of Congress. The 15 cabinet departments include the Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, Interior, Agriculture, Justice, Commerce, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Health and Human Services, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. Each department has bureaus or agencies within it. The president appoints each department's secretary, undersecretary, and assistant secretaries.

The federal bureaucracy also includes more than 100 independent organizations that are not part of the departments. Examples of independent agencies include the Social Security Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Central Intelligence Agency. Some independent agencies are government corporations, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority.

To keep regulatory commissions impartial, they are independent of all three branches of government. Regulatory commissioners do not report to the president. Commissions make rules for industries and businesses that affect the public. They also regulate the conduct of these businesses. Lobbyists often pressure regulatory agencies, and critics cite the "revolving door" between businesses and the commissions that regulate them.

Section 2 The Civil Service System

Federal employees are vital to the smooth functioning of the American government. Approximately 11 percent of federal employees work in Washington, D.C., the rest work in offices across the country and the world. About half are administrative and clerical workers. The government also employs doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, and many other professionals.

The spoils system fostered inefficiency and corruption. After President James A. Garfield was shot and killed by a man expecting political favors, Congress passed the Pendleton Act, which created the Civil Service Commission. Today the Office of Personnel Management handles recruitment, pay, and exams for federal workers. Government jobs are attractive because of the many benefits they offer. Federal workers cannot engage in political activities during work hours, however. About 10 percent of the jobs in the executive branch are outside the civil service system and instead filled by presidential appointees, such as the cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and ambassadors to foreign countries.

Section 3 The Bureaucracy at Work

In theory, federal bureaucrats carry out only the policies and programs the president and Congress make, but in practice bureaucrats also make public policy. Administering programs requires federal bureaucrats to write rules and regulations and to set standards to implement laws. Rules help ensure that only eligible people receive benefits from the policies and programs. Some federal agencies, such as regulatory commissions, also shape policy by deciding disputes over how a set of rules should be applied. In addition, bureaucrats provide top decisions makers with information and advice.

The federal bureaucracy has grown because the nation's population has grown. International crises and economic problems at home also lead to an increase the size of the bureaucracy. Citizens' and interest groups' demands for action often result in a new agency being formed.

Congress's major power over the bureaucracy is its control over each agency's budget. Congressional committees, client or interest groups, and federal agencies often form an iron triangle when creating public policy. Critics believe that iron triangles allow interest groups undue influence outside the control of the executive branch.