The Federal Bureaucracy

The Bureaucracy

100

An administrative group of nonelected officials charged with carrying out functions connected to a series of policies and programs.

What is the federal bureaucracy?

200

These individuals who work in the bureaucracy, fill necessary and even instrumental roles in every area of government.

Who are the bureaucrats, or civil servants?

300

Political appointments handed out by presidents in the early 1800s on the basis of party loyalty.

What is the Spoils System?

400

The use of government positions to reward individuals for their political support. Presidents appointed people who were loyal and would help them out politically.

What is Political Patronage?

500

Passed by Congress in 1883, it established a centralized agency charged with ensuring that the federal government’s selection, retention, and promotion practices were based on open, competitive examinations in a merit system.

What is The Pendleton Act, also called the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883? 

The Cabinet

100

Created in 1789, oversees matters related to foreign policy and international issues relevant to the country.

What is the State Department?

200

Created in 1787, oversees the printing of U.S. currency, collects taxes, and manages government debt.

What is the Department of the Treasury?

300

Created in 1947, oversees the many elements of the U.S. armed forces, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force.

What is the Dept of Defense?

400

Created in 1930 by executive order and later elevated to a cabinet level department in 1989, the VA oversees the services provided to U.S. veterans, including health care services and benefits programs.

What is the Department of Veterans Affairs?

500

Created in 1870, oversees the enforcement of U.S. laws, matters related to public safety, and crime prevention.

Department of Justice

Independent Executive Agencies and Regulatory Agencies

100

Assigned far more focused tasks. Considered independent because they are not subject to the regulatory authority of any specific department.

Independent Executive Agencies and Regulatory Agencies

200

This independent government agency is responsible for the advancement of science and exploration of space. 

What is NASA?

300

This independent agency enforces laws aimed at protecting environmental sustainability.

What is the EPA?

400

This independent government agency collects and manages intelligence vital to national interests.

What is the CIA?

500

In the civil service, a chart that shows salary ranges for different levels of positions vertically and for different ranks of seniority horizontally.

What is a Pay Schedule?

Oversight

100

Formed by the federal government to administer a quasi-business enterprise.

What is a Government Corporation? 

200

This government corporation generates enough profit to be self-sustaining, also fulfills a vital mail service. 

What is the U.S. Post Office?

300

This branch of the government has oversight authority over the federal bureaucracy. 

What is the Legislative Branch or Congress?

400

These groups in both chambers of Congress regularly hold hearings to question the leaders of the various bureaucracies.

What are committees and subcommittees? 

500

These groups submit annual summaries of their activities & budgets for the following year.

What are bureaucratic agencies?