The Federal Bureaucracy
The Roots of Bureaucracy
Foreign Affairs (State), War (Defense), Treasury first departments
Growth in early 1800s with Post Office
Patronage and the spoils system become common
Civil War spawns another expansion
Pendleton Act is beginning of civil service system
Also known as merit system
Creation of independent regulatory commissions
Growth of the Bureaucracy
Modern Bureaucracy
More than 2.7 million civilian employees
Most (90%) are selected based on merit
Also have high-level appointees
Wide variety of skills represented
Less diverse than American population
Scattered throughout D.C. and regional offices
Growth of outside contractors
The Federal Bureaucracy TODAY• The New Deal DOUBLED the size of the federal work force, and
continued to expand during the Cold War years (once created, agencies rarely go away)
• Currently close to 4.3 million people work for the federal government– 2.7 million directly for exec. Branch, 1.6 mil for armed forces, and 64,000 judiciary
• 2,200 presidential appointments (jobs are often obtained through patronage)
• 15 executive departments, headed by presidential appointees
• 180 independent agencies, boards, and commissions whose heads are presidential appointees
Examples: EPA Environmental Protection AgencyNASA National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationCIA Central Intelligence AgencyUSAID U.S. Agency for International DevelopmentThe Peace Corps
• The are a number of government corporations directly serving the public
Examples: FDIC Federal Deposit Insurance CorporationUSPS United States Postal ServiceTVA Tennessee Valley Administration
The Civil Service System Today
• Applicant for federal jobs are evaluated on the basis of their experience and training
• Office of Personnel Management [OPM] administers recruitment, pay, retirement, and exams
• Government jobs are attractive because they offer many benefits:
- job security- competitive salaries- 13-26 days of paid
vacations- sound pensions
Civilian Employment
Government Employee Pay
The General Schedule (GS) is a worldwide pay system that covers more than 1.5 million employees.
The GS pay schedule has 15 grades and 10 steps in each grade covering more than 400 occupations. Pay varies by geographic location.
The law requires a two-part GS pay adjustment in January each year with pay adjustments based on surveys conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Based on legal requirements, BLS conducts locality pay surveys in 34 separate geographic areas, with survey data representing non-Federal salaries (including State and local) at distinct levels of work.
Since a distinct work-level to work-level pay comparison is required, beginning pay rates for GS jobs must be compared to beginning pay rates for non-Federal jobs at the same level of work, etc.
When OPM compared Federal pay with BLS data for non-Federal pay at the same levels of work, OPM found, for all locality pay areas, non-Federal pay was 26 percent ahead of Federal pay as of March 2011. (Pay gaps for other years can be found in the "Pay Disparities and Comparability Payments" sections of annual Pay Agent reports.)
Federal Workforce by Gender and Race
Federal Workforce by State
Formal Organization
Cabinet departments handle broad, lasting issues
Headed by secretaries
Government corporations act like businesses
Independent executive agencies handle services
Narrower than Cabinet department, independent
Independent regulatory commissions watch industry
Designed to be free from partisan pressure
Government Workers and Politics
Hatch Act sets first boundaries
Federal Employees Political Act is current standard
FEPA
Characteristics of Bureaucracy
Chain of command from top to bottom
Division of labor
Clear lines of authority
Goal orientation
Merit system
Productivity
How the Bureaucracy Works
Congress creates agencies
Main job is implementation of laws
Policy made in iron triangles or issue networks
Increasing use of interagency councils
An Iron Triangle
The Influence of Client Groups• Federal agencies have “client groups” that try to influence decisions• The close cooperation between congressional committees, client
groups, and a federal agency or department is referred to as…
“IRON TRIANGLES”
Congressional committeesEx: Armed Services Committee
Interest Group or OrganizationThe American Legion
Executive DepartmentEx: Dept of Veterans’ Affairs
Making Policy
Administrative discretion allows a lot of latitude
Rule-making is a quasi-legislative process
Formal procedure for making regulations
Administrative adjudication is quasi-judicial process
Used to settle disputes between two parties
Agency Accountability Often unclear who agencies should be accountable to
Civil servants are not directly accountable to American people
Presidents try to make the right appointments
Can also shape policy through executive orders
Congress can use oversight powers and funding
Police patrol v. fire alarm oversight
Judiciary can review regulations
Agency Accountability
Example W2
Historical Taxing Categories
Historical Spending Categories
Did you try the budget Challenge?
• http://www.federalbudgetchallenge.org/pages/overview
• What did you think?
Homework: More on the Executive Cabinets
• 15 Question Quiz next Class!
More on the Executive Departments[The Cabinet]
The US Constitution mentions nothing about a Cabinet of advisors. This tradition, started by George Washington, has evolved over time, expanding in size from 4 members to 15 since Washington’s presidency.
Selecting the Cabinet
Numerous factors are considered when selecting members of the cabinet.• Does their background experience suit their post?• Do they have high-level administrative experience?• Do they bring geographical balance to the cabinet?• Will they satisfy interest groups?• Do they bring ethnic, racial, or gender balance to the cabinet? [Cabinets have been very diverse since the Clinton Years… he wanted his Cabinet to “look like America.”]
The Executive Branch
The Role of the Cabinet• Cabinet secretaries are the heads of the 15 executive departments• The role of the Cabinet has always been determined by the President• Certain cabinet members form the “inner cabinet,” who can greatly
influence the president’s decisions on matters related to their departments’ areas of interest
• Secretary of State• Secretary of Defense• Secretary of Treasury • Attorney General
Department of State(1789)
• Responsible for the nation’s overall foreign policy
• Protects U.S. citizens abroad• Oversees embassies (and
staffs them)• Analyzes American interests in
other nations
Hillary Clinton,Secretary of State
Department of Defense(1789)
• Protects the security of the U.S.
• Oversees the armed forces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Largest department in the Executive Branch with nearly 2 million employees
Robert Gates,Secretary of Defense
Treasury Department(1789)
• Manages the nation’s monetary resources
• The Mint manufactures coins• The Bureau of Printing &
Engraving produces paper money
• IRS collects taxes• ATF regulates production and
distribution of alcohol and tobacco and administers explosives and firearms laws
Timothy Geithner,Treasury Secretary
Department of the Interior(1849)
• Protects public lands and natural resources
• Operates hydroelectric power plants• Oversees relations with American
Indians; helps them manage their affairs• Oversees the mining of natural resources• National Park Service manages national
parks and monuments, historic sites, wildlife refuges, and recreational areas
Ken Salazar,Interior Secretary
Department of Justice(1870)
• Office of the Attorney General est. 1789• Oversees the nation’s legal affairs;
represents the U.S. in court• Provides legal advice to the President• Enforces anti-trust and
civil rights laws• FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)• DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)• Operates federal prisons
Eric Holder,Attorney General
Department of Agriculture(1889)
• Helps farmers and ranchers improve their incomes and expand their markets
• Provides financial credits to farmers
• Develops conservation programs• Safeguards the nation’s food
supply
Tom Vilsack,USDA Secretary
Department of Commerce(1903)
• Promotes and protects American industry, technology, and business interests
• Issues patents and trademarks• Census Bureau conducts census
every 10 years
Gary Locke,Secretary of Commerce
Department of Labor(1913)
• Protects American workers by ensuring safe working conditions, safeguarding the minimum wage
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics analyzes data on employment, wages, and compensation
• Encourages cooperation between labor and management
• Administers unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation programs
Hilda Solis,Labor Secretary
Department of Housing andUrban Development (1965)
• Helps preserve the nation’s communities
• Ensures equal housing opportunities and fair housing laws
• Helps make mortgages available for more people to buy homes
• Operates public housing programs
Shaun DonovanHUD Secretary
Department of Transportation
(1966)
• Regulates all aspects of American transportation needs, policy development, and planning
• Regulates aviation, railroads, highways, waterways, mass transit, and oil and gas pipelines
Ray LaHood,DOT Secretary
Department of Energy(1977)
• Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy
• Researches and develops energy technology• Conducts nuclear weapons research and
production• Transmits and sells hydroelectric power• Sets rate for interstate transmission of natural
gas and electricity
Steven Chu,Energy Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services (1979)
• Created in 1953 as part of Health, Welfare, and Education• Funds health care research programs• Social Security Administration aids seniors and welfare
recipients• Manages Medicare and Medicaid programs• FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ensures the safety
of food and drugs and approves new treatment of disease; enforces pure food and drug laws
• CDC (Center for Disease Control)• NIH (National Institutes of Health)
Kathleen Sebelius,HHS Secretary
Department of Education(1979)
• Coordinates federal assistance programs for public and private schools
• Conducts educational research• Oversees programs for LEP students
(ESL/HILT)• Oversees programs for students with
disabilities
Arne Duncan,Secretary of Education
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (1989)
• Administers hospitals and various educational programs to benefit veterans and their families
• Administers benefits and pensions to veterans of the armed forces
• Oversees military cemeteries
Gen. Eric Shinseki,VA Secretary
Department of Homeland Security (2002)
• Prevents, prepares for, and protects against terrorist attacks on American soil
• Oversees border and transportation security• Oversees emergency preparedness and response• Provides information analysis and infrastructure
protection
When created, independent agencies and organizations from other cabinet departments were transferred to Homeland Security:
- Secret Service from Treasury Dept- Coast Guard from Transportation Dept- INS from Justice Dept- FEMA
Janet Napolitano,Secretary of Homeland Security
Executive Office of the President (EOP )
Established in 1939, the EOP has grown rapidly because…
- Presidents keep adding new agencies to it
- Presidents want experts nearby to advise them about issues
- Huge federal programs require agencies to coordinate efforts of executive departments and agencies working together
Executive Office of the President (EOP )
Office of Management and Budget [OMB]- the largest EOP agency- prepares the national budget that the President sends to Congress each year
National Security Council [NSC]- advises the President on security matters- helps coordinate the nation’s military and foreign policy
Council of Economic Advisors- helps the President formulate the nation’s economic policy
Other EOP offices:Office of the Vice PresidentOffice of the US Trade RepresentativeOffice of national Drug Control PolicyOffice of Science and TechnologyCouncil on Environmental QualityOffice of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Ret. General James JonesNational Security Advisor
Executive Office of the President (EOP )
The White House Office- staff performs whatever duties are need by the President
- gathers information and provides advice on key issues
- ensures that Exec. Departments and agencies carry out directives from the President
- present the President’s views to the outside world
Rahm EmmanuelWhite House Chief of Staff
Robert GibbsPress Secretary
FEC
In 1975, Congress created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) - the statute that governs the financing of federal elections.
The duties of the FEC, which is an independent regulatory agency, are to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections.
US Trade RepresentativeThe Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries.
The head of USTR is the U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues.
USTR provides trade policy leadership and negotiating expertise promoting the administrations trade policy to open markets throughout the world to create new opportunities and higher living standards for families, farmers, manufacturers, workers, consumers, and businesses.
How the Bureaucracy Influences Public Policy
• Carries out policy decisions made by the President and Congress
• Often determines what the law means by the rules and regulations it issues
• Shapes public policy by helping Congress draft new laws or by providing ideas for new legislation
• Supplies advice and information to top decision-makers