The federal bureaucracy grew from a few thousand employees in 1800 to millions today. It expanded due to increased responsibilities of the government and population growth. The bureaucracy is organized into departments and agencies, overseen by presidential appointees. Government employees are typically hired through competitive examinations and political appointments. [RESPONSE]: The federal bureaucracy has experienced exponential growth since 1800, when it consisted of only a few thousand employees, to today where it employs millions (Light, 1999). This growth has been driven by both the increasing responsibilities and obligations of the federal government as well as the overall population growth of the United States. The bureaucracy is now organized into 15 executive departments and over 100 independent agencies and commissions, each with their own