Heimler's History: Federal Bureaucracy

Overview

• Focus: Understanding how the federal bureaucracy carries out government responsibilities.
• Bureaucracy Definition: Millions of people employed to enforce laws passed by Congress, under the executive branch.

Structure of the Bureaucracy

• Cabinet Departments: 15 departments, e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Education.
  • Example: Department of the Treasury.
    • Agencies like the IRS (collects taxes) and the US Mint (coins and prints money).
• Independent Regulatory Commissions: Operate independent of the President but are part of the executive branch.
  • Example: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates language on TV broadcasts.
• Government Corporations: Hybrid between government agency and private business.
  • Example: U.S. Postal Service.

Functions of Bureaucratic Entities

1. Write and Enforce Regulations
   • Example: FCC mandates closed captions for TV broadcasts.
2. Issue Fines
   • IRS fines for tax non-compliance.
   • EPA fines for violating the Clean Air Act.
3. Interact with Congress
   • Department heads testify in congressional committees.
   • Iron Triangle: Relationship between bureaucrats, congressional committees, and interest groups.
     • Congress funds departments; interest groups provide expertise and influence.
     • Issue Networks: Challenge iron triangles, diverse groups focusing on single issues.

Efficiency and Changes Over Time

• Spoils System: Jobs given to supporters of the president.
  • Led to incompetence and incidents, e.g., assassination of President Garfield.
• Civil Service Reform
  • Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883): Merit-based job allocation.
  • Civil Service Reform Act (1978): Expanded opportunities for women, increased department efficiency.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on professional, specialized, and neutral bureaucracy.
• Encouragement to use resources to assist with AP government curriculum exam preparation.