This document outlines the main components of the US federal bureaucracy including cabinet-level departments, independent agencies, regulatory boards and commissions, and government corporations. It also discusses the roles and functions of administrators, rule makers, and judges within federal agencies. Finally, it examines relationships between congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies with committees providing oversight and influence over agencies.

1. POL 140
Fall 2014

9.  Cabinet-Level Departments
 Independent Agencies
 Regulatory Boards and Commissions
 Government Corporations

11.  Fifteen Departments
 Secretary appointed by president
 What issues fall under the cabinet?
 Foreign Relations
 Agriculture
 Education

13.  Enforce regulations and create policy
 Single head appointed by president
 Narrow areas of jurisdiction
 Size varies

14.  Agency run by a small number of officials
 Appointed by the president, serve a fixed term
 Sector of economy or political arena
Federal
Communications
Commission
Food and Drug
Administration

15.  Service NOT provided by private business

17.  Hierarchy
 Chain of command
 Specialization
 Tasks are divided
 Explicit Rules
 Personal discretion limit
 Standardization, Predictability
 Merit
 Objective criteria for hiring, etc. Max Weber

19.  Administrator
 Rule Maker
 Judge

20.  Implements and administers laws
 Serves in professional and non-partisan way
 Examples:
 Park Rangers
 Police Officers

21.  Writes details of legislation
 Bureaucracy is delegated legislative authority,
known as bureaucratic discretion
 Importance of judgment
 Decisions not without safeguards
 Federal Register and Public

22.  Interpreting the law in certain cases
 “Rules of the game”
 Responsible for ensuring compliance
 Rulings can be overturned by Congress

24.  Appointment Power
 The Budget Process
 Government Reorganization
 “The Power of Persuasion”

25.  Relationship between government actors:
 Congressional Committee
 Interest Group
 Bureaucratic Agency

26. Congressional
Committee
Select Committee
on Aging
Interest Group
American Association of
Retired Persons
Bureaucratic
Agency
Social Security
Administration

27.  Powerful check
 Members’ views on implementation
 Committees with jurisdiction can request
agency testify before them
 Congress sets funding levels for agencies

28.  Agencies sued by individuals and businesses
 Courts play minor role in process
 Bureaucratic deference
 Agencies being out of Court’s reach
 Time constraints