Government Chapter 15

The Cabinet's Role

Cabinet members have two major jobs: Individually, each is the administrative head of one of the executive departments. Together, they are advisors to the President.

Executive Departments

Often called the Cabinet departments, they are the traditional units of federal administration.

Benefits of the bureaucracy

Specific standards and regulations of work and output that make sure no matter your role or position within the hierarchy all must obey the same rules.

independent agency

The government not accounted for by cabinet departments, independent regulatory agencies, and government corporations. Its administrators are typically appointed by the president and serve at the president's pleasure. NASA is an example.

secretary

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

bureaucracy

a system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the work of government. EX: McDonalds

executive departments

agencies of the federal government responsible for carrying out laws, administering programs, and making regulations in their particular area of responsibility

heirarchial authority

describes bureaucracy, built as pyramid, chain of command running

attourney General

head of department of justice serves in cabinet

bureaucrat

one who works for a department or agency of the federal government—civil servant

executive office of the president

the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws

administration

the president and his political appointees, who are responsible for directing the executive branch of government