Ch 14 The Federal Bureaucracy

Question 1

Bureaucracy

def?

Answer 1

a set of complex hierarchical departments, agencies, commissions, & their staffs that help the president enforce federal laws
(like the 4th branch of government (works directly for exec))

Question 2

Who are the Federal Bureaucrats? (4 characteristics)

Answer 2

Career gov. employees who work in the exec. branch
3 million
Wide diversity of jobs (all employed by fed. gov.)
Most work outside Washington, D.C.

Question 3

Cabinet Departments

role? facts?

Answer 3

(biggest group, broadest policy idea)
Major administrative units responsible for broad areas of gov. operation
60% of federal workforce
subdivided into bureaus

Question 4

Gov. Corporations

role? ex?

Answer 4

Business created by Congress to perform private-sector type work
charge for services
EX: Amtrak, Postal service (set regulated price)

Question 5

Independent Agencies

role? ex?

Answer 5

Similar to cabinet departments but w/ narrower area of responsibility
agency head appointed by & can be removed by Pres
EX: NASA, EPA (needs to be done)

Question 6

Regulatory Agencies

role? created because? ex? characteristics of..?

Answer 6

Created to exist outside of Cabinet (Congress)
regulates specific economic interest
EX: FCC, OHSA (like mining so workers safely accounted for, a lot cheaper to mine in China but not protected)
3 Branch characteristics (LEJ, tv breast example)

Question 7

Roots of Federal Bureaucracy - Max Weber’s Model (5)

Answer 7

chain of command (need to know who u work for & the requirements)
division of labor (do what u do best, promoted but never moved down)
specified authority (levels of different ppl in gov/org.
impersonality (merit, don’t use personal contacts to advance self in org. like Jackson w/ spoils system)
productivity (having hand in final product)

Question 8

Development of the federal Bureaucracy

Answer 8

1789- State, War, & Treasury Departments
Jackson- spoils system
Civil War- expansion/patronage ($ & size of gov.)
Civil Service System- merit system (Pendleton Act 1887)

Question 9

Development of the federal Bureaucracy: Pendleton Act 1887

Answer 9

no longer promote ppl just bc we’re friends, everyone has to demonstrate skills taking exams when working for fed. gov.
(Civil Service Exam to eliminate spoils system)

Question 10

Bureaucratic reforms

methods used to try to reduce fed. gov. & make it smaller? (3)

Answer 10

termination (eliminate fed. programs & agencies) (prob.: a lot of ppl interested in it)
devolution (returning power back to states) (devolve power & authority)
privatization (take gov. activities & give them to private sectors)