The Bureaucracy

Question 1

Define bureaucracy

Answer 1

A bureaucracy is a large and complex system of administration consisting of appointed officials. Bureaucracies feature a hierarchical authority structure, job specialization, and established rules and procedures.

Question 2

How many federal executive departments comprise the cabinet?

Answer 2

Fifteen

The 15 departments are headed by secretaries (except for the Justice Department, which is headed by the attorney general). The president appoints the secretaries, who then must be approved by the Senate.

Some of the 15 cabinet departments include State, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security.

Question 3

What are the two types of executive-level departments?

Answer 3

The two types of executive-level departments are:

Independent regulatory agencies: not part of the cabinet, but report to the president, e.g. the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Independent executive agencies: independent of a cabinet department, e.g. NASA

Question 4

The executive branch contains many independent regulatory agencies. How do these agencies differ from cabinet departments?

Answer 4

The independent regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Federal Trade Commission (FCC), are constitutionally part of the executive branch, but operate fairly independent of presidential control.

Most independent agencies are run by commissions of between five and seven members who share power. While the president has the power to name the commissions’ members, these commissions have staggered terms; thus, no one president can name all a commission’s members.

Question 5

What are government corporations?

Answer 5

Government corporations operate somewhat like private companies; however, they do not have stockholders and, if profitable, the profits remain in the corporation.

Some examples of government corporations include the U.S. Postal Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Amtrak.

Question 6

What rule-making powers do executive regulatory agencies possess?

Answer 6

Most federal agencies possess rule-making and rule- adjudication powers (commonly termed “quasi legislative” and “quasi judicial,” respectively) given to them by the Congress.

rule-making: federal agencies have the power to pass regulations pursuant to their statutory grant of authority; these regulations have the power of laws passed by Congress
rule-adjudication: most federal agencies have the power to initiate proceedings for violations of regulations passed under their rule-making authority

Question 7

How does the president exercise control over the bureaucracy?

Answer 7

The president influences control over the bureaucracy by:

appointing agency directors and subheads (with Senate approval)
issuing executive orders compelling an agency to do/not do something
increasing or decreasing an agency’s budget (through the Office of Management and Budget)

Question 8

How may Congress exercise control over the executive bureaucracy?

Answer 8

Congress may restrain executive agencies in a number of ways by:

revising statutes that established the agency’s mission
exercising control over an agency’s budget
conducting audits or holding hearings
influencing the selection of agency directors (Senate)

Question 9

What judicial branch controls exist over the executive bureaucracy?

Answer 9

Although judicial branch power is limited, it can exercise control by making rulings, overturning or supporting acts taken under an agency’s rule-making, or by rule-adjudication authority.

For the most part, the federal judiciary defers to the agency by requiring that before a case is heard, all administrative (agency) remedies must be exhausted.

Appeals from administrative rulings are heard by the Federal Circuit Court, sitting in Washington, D.C.

Question 10

What is the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) role?

Answer 10

As an independent agency in the executive branch, the CIA gathers intelligence about activities in foreign countries and provides national security information to policymakers in the United States.

Question 11

What is the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) mission?

Answer 11

As an independent agency in the executive branch, the FCC regulates interstate satellite, cable, television, and radio transmissions. The FCC assigns radio frequencies, grants broadcast licenses, monitors wireless and landline telephone companies, and acts to ensure reasonable cable television rates.

Question 12

What is the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) primary responsibility?

Answer 12

The FTC’s primary responsibility is the encouragement of fair trade and competition by enforcing antitrust and consumer protection statutes.

Question 13

What is the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?

Answer 13

The SEC is an independent regulatory agency of the executive branch and regulates the securities markets (stocks, bonds, etc.) in the United States.

Question 14

Which independent agency of the executive branch investigates employment discrimination complaints?

Answer 14

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates employment-related discrimination issues.

Question 15

What agency’s mission is to “pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.”

Answer 15

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The vast majority of U.S. space exploration efforts have been led by NASA, including the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle. NASA is an independent executive agency.

Question 16

What is the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Answer 16

The EPA, an independent executive agency, writes and enforces regulations for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment.

Question 17

What role does the Chief of Staff play?

Answer 17

The Chief of Staff hires and manages the White House staff, oversees the president’s schedule, and controls who gets to meet with the president. This person also serves as a top adviser to the the president on a variety of issues.

In recent years, the Chief of Staff has evolved into a very powerful role.

Question 18

Which cabinet department oversees the foreign relations of the United States?

Answer 18

The State Department, which operates U.S. embassies and coordinates U.S. foreign policy, oversees the country’s foreign relations.

The State Department was the first established executive-level department.

Question 19

Which cabinet department oversees the federal government’s revenue?

Answer 19

Overseeing government revenue falls under the Treasury Department. In addition to overseeing the Internal Revenue Service, which collects taxes, the Treasury Department prints currency, supervises national banks, and manages federal finances.

Question 20

Which cabinet office is the world’s largest employer?

Answer 20

Headed by the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense (DOD) is the world’s largest employer and the overseer of all agencies and government functions directly related to national security. The DOD employs a total of 3.2 million servicemen and servicewomen, including civilian support staff.

The Department of Defense oversees the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and the National Guard.

Question 21

What body advises the president, Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, and the National Security Council on military matters?

Answer 21

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense, provide advice on military matters.

Question 22

Which cabinet department does the U.S. Attorney General head?

Answer 22

The Attorney General heads the Department of Justice (DOJ), responsible for enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice. Among others, the DOJ oversees the U.S. Marshals, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and prosecutes tax fraud and civil rights violations.

Question 23

Which executive department oversees the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)?

Answer 23

OSHA is overseen by the Department of Labor, the executive department tasked with assisting wage earners, job seekers, and retirees by advancing employment opportunities, improving working conditions, and assuring work-related benefits and rights.

Question 24

Which cabinet department’s motto is “Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America”?

Answer 24

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Among other things, HHS oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs, many of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), and the Centers for Disease Control.

Question 25

Which executive department is the most recent, created in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks?

Answer 25

In 2002, President Bush and the Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which protects the United States from terrorist attacks and responds to natural disasters.

Among other agencies, DHS oversees the Transportation Safety Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Question 26

Define “red tape”

Answer 26

Red tape refers to the complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be completed in order to get things done. As an example, to secure a Housing and Urban Development Loan, a potential borrower must fill out significant amounts of paper work.

Question 27

What is the iron triangle?

Answer 27

The iron triangle refers to a close, potentially mutually beneficial relationship between an executive agency, the congressional committee that oversees that agency, and an interest group. Individual groups on all three sides of the triangle exchange political favors and information, leading to the development of significant power to steer public policy, which may not be in the best interest of the public.

Question 28

What is a “spoils system”?

Answer 28

A spoils system refers to rewarding party loyalists and friends with positions in the bureaucracy after an election. The spoils system was a prominent feature of national and local elections after the presidency of Andrew Jackson, but began to wane with civil service reforms of the late 1800s, which instituted merit-based examinations.

Question 29

What did the Pendelton Act, passed in 1883, provide?

Answer 29

The Pendelton Act provided that government jobs should be awarded by merit, and that government employees should be chosen based not upon ties to politicians, but by competitive exams.

The Pendelton Act created the United States Civil Service Commission, which administers the civil service of the United States government.

Question 30

What is the Hatch Act of 1939?

Answer 30

The Hatch Act of 1939, An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law. Its main provision prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president and vice president, from engaging in some forms of political activity.