Federal Bureaucracy
What is bureaucracy?
Any organization, either in government or the private sector, having the following features: a clear formal structure, a division of labor, and a set of rules and procedures by which it operates.
How many executive departments are there in the government today?
15 executive departments
What is first needed when creating an independent agency?
An act of Congress is needed (x6)
What is a proportional tax?
It is a tax that is applied at the same rate against all incomes
Give an example of an independent agency
NASA, GSA, NARA
What is the civil service?
The civil service is made up of the civilians who carry out the work of the federal government
What does the Department of Defense do?
It oversees U.S military forces charged with protecting the nation (x3)
What is the purpose of an independent agency?
To oversee and manage a specific aspect of the federal government
What a progressive tax?
It is a tax whose rate increases as the amount of money one makes increases
What Amendment grants Congress the power to levy an income tax?
How do the top administrators in the federal bureaucracy get their jobs?
They are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate (x2)
What 3 programs are included in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)?
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
What is the purpose of an independent regulatory commission?
To regulate some aspect of the economy
What are some ways that the government can combat inflation?
Reduce spending, raise taxes, or raise interest rates
What is the Spoils System?
The Spoils System was where people who supported the presidential candidate got high positions despite lacking qualifications
What is the purpose of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
It conducts exams, places applicants in jobs, and maintains the administrative functions of the civil service
What is the purpose of the Department of the Interior?
Manage the country's public land, resources, and its relationship with the native groups
What is the purpose of the U.S Postal Service (USPS)?
Providing equal access to mail to all areas across the United States
How can cutting taxes help the economy? How can it hurt the economy?
Cutting taxes puts more money into the pockets of consumers and increases spending, but can cause deficits or inflation
How is an independent agency different from an executive department?
The heads of the independent agencies do not have a seat in the President's cabinet but operate more independently than the executive agencies
What event and what act helped undo the Spoils System?
The assassination of President James Garfield and the Pendleton Civil Service Act
What is Congress's role in creating new departments?
They spell out the purpose of the department and approve the budget and expenditures of the department
What is the main job of the Federal Communications Commission?
To limit the use of offensive and obscene language on TV and Radio
In what ways does the Fed affect the economy?
The Fed sets rules for how much money banks must have in reserve, which affects the money in circulation. The Fed adjusts interest rates. The Fed can buy and sell government bonds
Explain the process by which the national budget is made, including the process of the executive and legislative branches goes through.
The president sets a broad budget, OMB works with the various departments and agencies while budget requests are sent, OMB reviews requests and makes adjustments, the president presents the budget by January, Congress agrees on the grand totals for revenue and expenditures, appropriation committees write budget legislation and send it to Congress to be passed