What is a “bureaucracy”?

• On a day-to-day basis, the federal bureaucracy carries out much of the work of the
U.S. government.
• Yet the bureaucracy, sometimes known as “the fourth branch,” is perhaps the least
known and understood part of the federal government.
• In this lesson, you will investigate which departments and agencies make up the
federal bureaucracy, and how they function.

“rule by desks”
Enquiry Question: How powerful is the federal bureaucracy?
 Learning Objectives
• To explain the composition of the federal
bureaucracy and sources of power
• To analyse the problems of presidential
control, including the reasons for and
consequences of this
 Characteristics of a bureaucracy
• Administration of
government through
departments
• Consists of unelected often
highly trained professionals
• Task specialization
• Hierarchical authority
• Impersonal
• Inclined to follow rigid or
complex procedures
• May stifle effectiveness and
innovation
• Red tape
 The Federal Bureaucracy Is…
• 4 million employees; 2.8
million are civilians or “civil
servants”
• President only appoints 3%
(patronage or political
appointments)
• 15 cabinet level departments
• 200+ independent agencies
with 2,000+ bureaus,
divisions, branches, etc.
• Biggest - Department of
Defense, U.S. Postal Service,
Veterans Administration
QUESTIONS:
• With 4 million employees in
15 departments and
hundreds of independent
agencies, are you surprised
by the size and scope of the
federal bureaucracy?
• Why do you think it’s so big?
• If the president only appoints
about 3% of the federal
workforce, how much control
do you think he has over the
bureaucracy?
• Why do you think the
Department of Defense is the
biggest federal department?
Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy
• Implementation - carry
out laws of Congress,
executive orders of the
President
• Administration -
routine administrative
work; provide services
(ex: SSA sends social
security checks to
beneficiaries)
• Regulation - issue rules
and regulations that
impact the public (ex:
EPA sets clean air
standards)
 US Politics Crash Course
Bureaucracy Basics
Watch the video.
• Bureaucracies tend to be associated with unintelligible rules and
time-wasting procedures, but they play an important, though
controversial, role in governing.
• From the FDA to the EPA, these agencies were established to help
the government manage and carry out laws much more efficiently -
to bring the rule making and enforcement closer to the experts.
• But the federal bureaucracy (which is part of the executive branch)
has a lot of power and sometimes acts likes Congress in creating
regulations and like the courts through administrative adjudications.
• It's all a bit problematic for that whole "separation of powers" thing.
• So we'll talk about that too, and the arguments for and against
increased federal bureaucracy.
Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
 US Politics Crash Course
Types of Bureaucracies
Watch the video.
• Craig Benzine breaks down the different types of bureaucracies. I mean
sure, they’re all part of the executive branch, but some work more
directly with the president than others.
• Some bureaucracies exist solely to independently regulate industry
whereas others are expected to operate like corporations and make a
profit.
• And on top of all that, some of these agencies have sub-agencies! It can
all get pretty complicated, so we’ll try to discuss some of the most
significant agencies out there and the ones you hear a lot about on the
news.
• We’ll talk about how they seem to have steadily gained more and more
power, and of course, we’ll talk about what all the agencies are for in
the first place!
 Who are the bureaucrats?
• 97% are career
government
employees or civil
servants
• Only 10% live in the
D.C. area
• 30% work for the
Department of
Defense
• Less than 15% work for
social welfare agencies
• Most are white collar
workers: secretaries,
clerks, lawyers,
inspectors & engineers
• Civil employees more
diverse
demographically than
Congress
 Learning Objectives
• To explain the composition of the federal
bureaucracy and sources of power
• To analyse the problems of presidential
control, including the reasons for and
consequences of this
 Oversight of the federal bureaucracy

Thinking Critically
• Of the tools at his disposal, what is the most effective check the President has
on the bureaucracy? Explain. Congress? The Judiciary?
• How does the federal bureaucracy fit with our class definition of
“bureaucracy?”
• What generalizations can you make about the federal bureaucracy?
• Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?”
• Some critics believe that the real power in the federal government lies with the
federal bureaucracy. To what extent do you believe this is true?
 US Politics Crash Course
Controlling Bureaucracies
Watch the video.
• Craig Benzine tells you how we keep bureaucracy in check.
• So we've spent the last few episodes telling you all about what
bureaucracies are and why they are formed.
• And throughout we've hinted about this ever-expanding power
within the executive branch.
• So today, we're going to finish our discussion of bureaucracy by
looking at methods the other branches of government use to
manage this power.
• From watch-dog organizations to reporting requirements there has
been quite a bit of legislation passed aimed at taming the
bureaucracy.
 Criticisms of bureaucracy
• RED TAPE
– too many rigid procedures >>> ex: all hiring must be done through OPM
– too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstances
– too many forms to fill out, lines to wait
• INEFFICIENCY
– lack of incentive to be productive - no profit motive
• DUPLICATION OF SERVICES
– bureaucracy is so complicated
– agencies are performing similar and sometimes the same functions
– Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps with Dept. of
Interior, etc.
– federalism makes this more complicated, many services are provided at the state
and national level both
• BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKER
– regulations end up having the effect of law
• BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIG
– privatization would be more effective
• BUREAUCRACY IS CORRUPT
– iron triangle - reveals the relationship between the Executive branch, Congress and
private interest groups that can lead to decisions which benefit the private sector at
the expense of the government.
 Iron Triangles
• relationship between persons in executive branch (bureaucracy),
congressional committees, and special interest groups who are all
involved in one area of policy making.
– it is a working relationship that can be beneficial because it improves
efficiency.
– however it can also cause decisions to be made which benefit the special
interest group at the expense of the government.
– Revolving door - The government-industry revolving door puts industry-
friendly experts in positions of decision-making power.
– Often individuals rotate between working for industry and working for the
government in regulatory capacities, arrangements that are fraught with
potential for conflicts of interest.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQVUXOhVdFg

"Under current law, government
officials who make contracting
decisions must either wait a year
before joining a military
contractor or, if they want to
switch immediately, must start in
an affiliate or division unrelated
to their government work. One
big loophole is that these
restrictions do not apply to many
high-level policy makers..., who
can join corporations or their
boards without waiting."
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title
=Government-industry_revolving_door
 Analysing Political
Cartoons
YOUR TASK:
• Describe what’s going on in the
political cartoon. (Who? What?
When? Where?)
• Identify any symbols (ex: an elephant
to represent the Republican Party)
portrayed in the cartoon and analyze
what they represent.
• What is the artist’s message in the
cartoon? What do you think is its
purpose?
• Do you agree or disagree with the
cartoonist's message? Explain your
answer.
• What does this cartoon tell us about
bureaucracy in general? The federal
bureaucracy in particular?
 Learning Objectives
• To explain the composition of the federal
bureaucracy and sources of power
• To analyse the problems of presidential
control, including the reasons for and
consequences of this
Aims of this booklet:
• To identify and
explain the
functions of the
federal
bureaucracy
• To examine
problems
commonly
identified with the
federal
bureaucracy
• To examine the
checks on the
power of the
federal
bureaucracy
 4 Pics 1 Word Game
In pairs, select a word each and draw 4 simple images/symbols to illustrate it.
Try to guess the word!

bureaucracy patronage
federal bureaucracy independent
bureaucrat regulatory commissions
implementation merit system
administration cabinet departments
regulation independent executive
hierarchy agencies
red tape government corporations
fourth branch spoils system
civil servant revolving door
 Homework
Application Task:
Explain the ways in which Cheney and Biden can be seen
as powerful vice presidents. (15)
Flipped Learning Preparation Task:
Power and Influence of the Cabinet and EOP (Pearson
p368-372)
The Cabinet (Bennett p248-260)
EOP (Bennett p260-268)
Stretch & Challenge Task
Bureaucracy and Policy Making