- Bureaucracy: an organization characterized by hierarchical structure,worker

specialization, explicit rules, and advancement by merit

Goals:

- Provide services and products to promote the public welfare

- Promote national security

- Provide services to help maintain a strong economy

Characteristics of Bureaucracy

- Hierarchy, clear chain of command and responsibility

- Specialization: tasks divided by expertise

- Explicit rules: rules rather than preferences govern decisions; have standardization,

predictability

- Merit: hiring based on exams and experience

Structure

- The 15 executive departments are the major service organizations of the federal

government

- These bureaucracies positions are appointed by the President and confirmed by the

Senate

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies

- Independent executive agencies ()

- They do not necessarily have to have an appointed sethey report secretary; they

report solely to the President. Ex: CIA or NASA

- Usually the scope is too broad and contain too much work for one person which

is why it is much easier to report solely to the President also the financial budget

is too great for support these agencies so funding comes from the President

- The President can decide to give or take money away from these agencies.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

- Agencies that sets the rules for other bureaucracies agencies aside from the

independent executive agencies

Government Corporations

- Government agencies that generate their own revenue

- Ex: Greyhound, Amtrak

- It is not a question of whether or not they cannot support their business solely on their

own revenue but rather if not they can generate revenue.

Regulatory Agencies: Are They The Fourth Branch of Government?

Pol Notes 3%2F27%2F2017

Introduction to American Politics (Pol 101)