13-2: How The Federal Bureaucracy Is Organized

Independent Executive Agencies: The Danger of Partisan Politics

Partisan Politics - *Political actions or decisions that benefit a particular party.* agencies are kept independent because of the sensitive nature of their functions. *Congress creates independent agencies to protect them from partisan politics* (politics in support of a particular party) Ex. CIA - activities could be abused if it were not private

The Executive Departments

The *fifteen executive departments*, which are directly accountable to the president, are the *major service organizations of the federal government* Because the president appoints the department heads, they are *expected to help carry out the president's policy objectives.* *they attempt to maximize the president's political successes* Each executive department was *created by Congress as the perceived need for it arose*, and each department manages a specific policy area *head of each department is known as the secretary* Department of Justice = headed by the attorney general. *Each department head is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.*

Government Corporations: Intermediate Forms of Organization

fall between a government corporation and a private one. *the government can take control of a private corporation.* The government can also purchase stock in a private corporation. The government used this technique to funnel funds into major banks during the financial crisis that began in September 2008. In addition, the government can set up a corporation and sell stock to the public. Ex. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association = stockholder-owned government-sponsored enterprises

Independent Executive Agencies: The Creation of Independent Agencies

*20th Century: presidents began to ask for certain executive agencies to be kept separate, or independent, from existing departments. There are more than two hundred independent executive agencies.*

Government Corporations

*agency of the government that is run as a business enterprise. Such agencies engage primarily in commercial activities, produce revenues, and require greater flexibility than most government agencies have.* business that is owned by the government. Ex. USPS *like private corporations in that they provide a service that could be handled by the private sector.* They are also like private corporations in that they *charge for their services*, though sometimes they charge less than private-sector corporations do for similar services.

Independent Executive Agencies

*federal agency that is not located within a cabinet department.* *federal bureaucratic organizations that have a single function.* *independent executive agency heads report directly to the president* *A new federal independent executive agency can be created only through cooperation between the president and Congress.*

Independent Regulatory Agencies

*federal organization that is responsible for creating and implementing rules that regulate private activity and protect the public interest in a particular sector of the economy.* responsible for a specific type of public policy. create and implement rules that regulate private activity and protect the public interest in a particular sector of the economy. Ex. ICC - abolished in 1995

Government Corporations: Facing Losses

If a government corporation runs at a loss, taxpayers may be forced to foot the bill. Solve Problem: -congressional approval -direct federal subsidies to the service Ex. USPS - bc of internet

A Typical Departmental Structure

Each cabinet department consists of the department's top administrators (the secretary of the department, deputy secretary, undersecretaries, and the like), plus a number of agencies *Secretary: -carry out the president's policies. -promote and protect the department. -spends time ensuring that Congress allocates enough money for the department to work effectively. -makes sure that constituents, or the people the department serves are happy. -tries to maintain or improve the status of the department with respect to all of the other departments and units of the federal bureaucracy. -Deputy secretary and several assistant secretaries and undersecretaries assist secretary (all of whom are nominated by the president and put into office with Senate approval) -secretary and assistant secretaries have staffs that help with all sorts of jobs, such as hiring new people and generating positive public relations for the department*

Introduction

The executive branch consists of a number of bureaucracies that provide services to Congress, to the federal courts, and to the president directly. *The executive branch of the federal government includes four major types of structures: -Executive departments. -Independent executive agencies. -Independent regulatory agencies. -Government corporations. internal workings.*