Service HourService Hour: 10 this : 10 this semestersemester◦3-court observation3-court observation◦3-public meeting3-public meeting◦4-Miscellaneous. 4-Miscellaneous. Must not be for a “for profit” Must not be for a “for profit” business. business.

◦Due Due Friday, May 24Friday, May 24thth Read Chapter 15Read Chapter 15

The Cabinet and the Agencies

Bureaucracy - is the organization of government administrators that carry out legislation.

Two types:◦ Agencies◦ Departments

Features of bureaucracy1.Hierarchical Authority2.Job Specialization

bureaucrats3.Formalized Rules

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.

Largest? Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration

Each Cabinet may have many sub units Each department is broken down into many

smaller areas Some of these areas may have major roles

under the dept.◦ For example: The Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA) is apart of the Dept. of Transportation

There over 150 independent federal agencies, boards, and commissions◦ They are not part of any Cabinet department

NASA EPA FEC

Many were created to make rules for large industries◦ FCC

- Others were created to help aid the President

- CIA

Federal Corporations such as the USPS and the FDIC are businesses that are run by the Federal Government◦ The profits from these corporations remain within

the business◦ They are also funded by Congress

As the country changes many agencies must be deregulated or reduced because of lack of funding or no longer useful.

Government owned businesses created by Congress

May or may not be profitable, but serve a public need

Examples: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The President can:

• appoint & remove agency heads

• reorganize the bureaucracy

• issue executive orders

• reduce an agency's budget

Congress can: create or abolish agencies

& departments

cut or reduce funding

investigate agency activities

hold committee hearings

pass legislation that alters an agency's functions

influence or even fail to confirm presidential appointments

There are two ways to get a Civil Service job◦ 1. Appointed by the President – 2,200 Jobs◦ 2. You must go through the Civil Service System

Civil Service System - Government employment based on open, competitive tests, and merit◦ Started under the Pendleton Act◦ Ended the Spoils System◦ Hatch Act of 1939 limited political activity of

bureaucrats Came about after President James

Garfield was assassinated by a disgruntled Charles J. Guiteau

He was not appointed to a government job

The medical and financial benefits for being a civil worker are attractive.

The turn over rate is less than 1% Run by Office of Personal Management

◦ The governments hiring agency Provides personal background info to government

employers