The ABCD’S of Government

An easy way to remember the bureaucracy

All of the component pieces to the Cabinet Departments and Independent Agencies of the Federal Government (All branches).

For a listing of all Federal Government Components, please go here:

http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml

A similar structure exists at the State Level.

The Bureaucracy Includes…

Just those component agencies of the President’s Cabinet…

The Bureaucracy is commonly thought of as…

It is made up of many parts…◦ Departments and their component pieces◦ Independent Executive Agencies◦ Government corporations

◦ This is where we begin the ABCD’S (and other letters) of Government

However…

Agencies, such as the CIA and EPA

Administrations, such as the General Services Administration and NASA

Authorities, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority

The A’s…

Boards, such as the National Transportation Safety Board and the Railroad Retirement Board.

Bureaus such as the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs

The B’s

Commissions, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, or the Federal Elections Commission

Corporations, like the FDIC and Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)

Committees, such as the Federal Geographic Data Committee

Councils, such as the Council of Economic Advisors Centers: ex: CDC Combatant Commands: ex: NorthCOM,

USAFRICOM, CENTCOM, PACCOM, etc.

The C’s

Departments, like the Cabinet Departments, or the components of the Department of Defense

Divisions Directorates – ex: Director of National

Intelligence

The D’s

Systems – example: The Selective Service System

Services – the Public Health Service, the National Park Service, etc.◦ If it’s a Service, its personnel most likely wear a

uniform.

The S’s

Institutes or Institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health or the Smithsonian Institution

Offices, like the Office of National Drug Control Policy

There are also the I’s and O’s

OTUS: of the United States◦ POTUS: President of the United States◦ VPOTUS: Vice President of the United States◦ FLOTUS: First Lady of the United States◦ SCOTUS: Supreme Court of the United States

COM: Command (normally used in the military)(Joint Service Combatant Command)

Ex: CENTCOM, PACCOM, USAFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, TRANSCOM

There are also a ton of abbreviations and acronyms…

AG vs. Ag.◦ Attorney General vs. Agriculture

DHS vs. DHHSDepartment of Homeland Security vs. Department of Health and Human Services

SEC vs. FEC vs. FCC vs. ICCSecurities and Exchange CommissionFederal Elections CommissionFederal CommunicationsInterstate Commerce Commission

There are those that look alike…

Comm. Cmte. COM Cmdr. Comm’r.

Can you tell these apart?

There are those that are just funny…

Like the White House Military Office (WHMO)◦ Pronounced “Whammo.”

There are also those that just make sense, too!SecDef, SecState, etc.

And, of course…

Can you name the 8 uniformed services?◦ I know you can name at least 5!!

◦ Ranks and pay grades are abbreviated◦ Unit structures are abbreviated◦ Operational units are abbreviated◦ Classifications of equipment are abbreviated

The Uniformed Services also have their own language too…

Name these agencies

Agency: NARA Hint: Keeper of the Records

Bureau: BPE Hint: Dollar Bills

Department: DOC Hint: Trade

So…let’s see how good you are

Place: WH, HOB, FCI, Combatant Commander: CINCPAC, SACEURCOM Office (generalized to all Cabinet Dept.): OIG Uniformed Service: USPHS Administration (the weather people): NOAA Place (military, generalized): NAS, AFB, FOB Bureau: ATF, BJS, BLM Cabinet Department: DOL, DOJ, DOE, USDA, DOT Person: SecEd, SecAF, SecTrans Geographic Regions: NCR and CONUS

And some more – civilian and military agencies, places, or positions

USPS (Independent Government Corporation)

USMS (there are two) (One law enforcement, one uniformed service)

USSS (law enforcement) CBP (law enforcement) ICE (law enforcement) FSIS (formerly in Ag., now DHS) USS vs. USNS USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA

Some final ones to test your knowledge:

See…the bureaucracy can be fun!!

Any questions??