The Bureaucracy Flashcards
Secretary of Defense
Administer of the Department of Defense
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The five military services have chiefs of staff and each chief of staff works together with the others
Bureaucratic Structure
Order of Departments (In order of Importance): Department of State Department of the Treasury Department of Defense Department of Justice Department of the Interior Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Labor Department of Health and Human Services Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Transportation Department of Energy Department of Education Department of Veterans' Affairs Department of Homeland Security
Senior Executive Service
Are supposed to be responsive to the policy goals of the White House and help bureaucrats implement the chief executive’s policy preferences
{Independent} Regulatory Agencies
Act as the watchdogs of the federal government
Quasi-Legislative Agencies
Independent agencies who have the responsibility for filling in the gaps left by lawmakers and are given the power to write rules that apply to their jurisdictional area
Quasi-Judicial Agencies
Responsible for rule enforcement and punishing violators in their jurisdictional area
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Responsible for preventing fraud in the marketplace by preventing price fixing and deceptive advertising
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Protects investors by regulating stock markets and policing corporations to prevent false and misleading claims of profits in an effort to increase stock prices
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Controls how electric power companies design, build, and operate nuclear reactors
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Responsible for assigning broadcast frequencies, for licensing radio and television stations, and for regulating the use of wireless communication devices
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Responsible for ensuring the health of the American people by inspecting the food supply for contaminants or spoilage and is also responsible for regulating the sale of over-the-counter drugs and patent medicines
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Responsible for preventing price fixing and price manipulation in electric utilities, interstate oil and gas pipelines, and natural gas suppliers
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Responsible for ensuring workers are employed in a safe work environment
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Enforces the environmental laws passed by Congress (one of the most controversial government bureaucracies)
1970 Clean Air Act
Intent of the law was to reduce automobile pollution and increase automobile gasoline mileage (Law eventually won over the industry)
Endangered Species Act
Intended to protect endangered wildlife habitats from human encroachment
Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC)
Responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination laws of the U.S.
Americans With Disabilities Act
Prevents states from discriminating against those who have disabilities
Federal Reserve Board (The Fed)
Regulates banks, the value and supply of money, and interest rates
Iron Triangles
Consists of:
- A single interest group that promotes one interest
- The Congressional Committee that looks over that interest
- The Bureaucracy that enforces that interest
Alliance/Issue Network
The political process in which the members of the Iron Triangle work together in order to create policy
Civil Aeronautics Board
Responsible for regulating the airline industry (Deregulated)
Interstate Commerce Commission
Regulated railroads and the trucking industry (Deregulated)
Deregulation
The removal of government restrictions and regulations
Quasi-Legislative Function
The writing and publishing of rules by a regulatory agency
Civil Service
Awards positions to those who are most qualified, not to those who are simply receiving the position through the Spoils System
Pendleton Act
Allowed the handing out of government jobs in exchange for political support (Spoils System)
Hatch Act of 1939
Permits bureaucrats the right to vote but not to actively campaign for political candidates, work for parties, or run for office (In 1993 bureaucrats were allowed to join political parties, make campaign contributions, and display political advertisement (Buttons and Bumper Stickers))
