THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The Federal Bureaucracy The Cabinet

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The Federal Bureaucracy

The Cabinet Departments • The Founders anticipated the need for federal agencies to carry on the daily business of government; currently nearly 3 million civilians work in the federal government • The 15 executive departments, headed by cabinet-rank officers, are a major part of the federal bureaucracy • These departments are headed by secretaries and staffed with assistant secretaries, deputy secretaries, and directors of major units

The Cabinet Departments • Two of the four departments created by Congress in 1789 are still among the most important: the Department of State and of the Treasury • The other 13 departments are the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Justice, Commerce, Labor, Defense, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security

Independent Agencies • The federal bureaucracy includes over 100 independent agencies, boards, and commissions, whose heads are appointed by the president • The services of several independent agencies, such as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), are widely publicized

Independent Agencies • Some agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the General Services Administration, provide services directly for the executive branch • Government corporations are independent agencies that directly serve the public, such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the U. S. Postal Service (USPS)

Regulatory Commissions • Are independent of all three branches of government • Makes rules for businesses and industries that affect the public interest • Are often under intense pressures from the groups they regulate and their lobbyists • Have become more limited in their powers because critics have complained that they over -regulate the economy

The Civil Service System • Only 11% of all federal government employees work in Washington, D. C; many work in offices throughout the U. S. and the world

Origins • Government jobs became a spoils system under President Andrew Jackson (7); victorious candidates rewarded political supporters and friends with jobs • The spoils system led to inefficiency and corruption in government

Origins • Calls for reform started in the 1850 s • The assassination of President Garfield (20) by a disappointed office seeker led to the Pendleton Act of 1883, establishing the present civil service system based on competitive examinations and merit

The Civil System Today… • Applicants for federal jobs are evaluated on the basis of their experience and training • Government jobs are attractive because they offer many benefits • Government workers, unlike most private sector workers, have more job security and are often more difficult to fire

The Civil System Today… • The Hatch Act of 1939 was intended to prevent political parties from using federal workers to aid in election campaigns; in recent years critics have argued for and against this law, with workers now permitted some involvement in politics

Influencing Policy • Policy consists of all the actions and decisions taken or not taken by the government • Federal bureaucrats carry out policy decision made by the president and Congress • The bureaucracy often determines what the law means through the rules and regulations it issues

Influencing Policy • In 1995 Congress set paperwork reductions goals for future years: early efforts for “going green” • Bureaucrats aid in shaping policy by helping Congress draft its new laws or by providing ideas for legislations • Workers in federal agencies shape policy by their decisions about the application of rules and regulations and by hearing disputes

Influencing Policy • Bureaucrats also supply advice and information to top decision makers, influencing whether an agency supports or opposes certain policies • What are the advantages and disadvantages of having federal bureaucrats influence policy decisions?