Bureaucracy in the U.S. Constitution

The Bureaucracy

• Originates from Article 1, Section 8 (Necessary and Proper Clause) and Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution
• Includes cabinet departments (largest), independent regulatory commissions, government corporations, and independent executive agencies
• Independent regulatory commissions protect public interest and resolve disputes
• Government corporations operate like private businesses, often charging for services
• Independent executive agencies have narrower focus and specific missions
• Bureaucracy involved in quasi-legislative (rulemaking) and quasi-judicial (dispute resolution) activities
• Largely under executive control, but legislative and judicial branches also have influence

Bureaucracy Accountabiliy

• Political patronage was replaced by the merit system, rewarding based on qualifications through competitive exams
• The Civil Service Commission oversees and prohibits political-based job appointments, promotes fairness
• Iron triangles (bureaucratic agency, congressional committee, interest group) were previously common, but now issue networks are more common and are more flexible
• Several factors including numerous interest groups and subcommittees contributed to the decline of iron triangles

Bureaucracy Discretion and Rulemaking

• Policy implementation translates laws, policies, and executive orders into actionable rules
• Congress/President set general mandates and bureaucrats create specific guidelines and procedures to enact mandates
• This is part of a policy cycle that involves multiple steps: implementation, evaluation, problem definition, budget, agenda setting, etc.
• Congress delegates some implementation authority through enabling legislation
• Agencies use their technical expertise to complete these complex tasks

Holding Bureaucracy Accountable

• Congress, President, Bureaucracy, and Courts all implement and create possible policies
• Congress uses oversight hearings, the power of the purse, and the Government Accountability Office to exert influence
• Presidents use ideology, authority, and influence to affect the bureaucracy
• Bureaucracy checks itself through compliance monitoring
• Public input and comments provide feedback

Policy and Branches of Government

• All three branches check the bureaucracy
• Through actions such as Congressional appropriations, presidential appointments, judicial review and executive orders to implement or influence the bureaucracy
• Data analysis involves looking at trends, drawing conclusions, and examining implications in political contexts

Structure of the Bureaucracy

• Federal bureaucracy includes millions of people employed to carry out federal responsibilities
• 15 cabinet departments, agencies, independent regulatory commissions, and government corporations
• Agencies work together to achieve department goals
• Independent regulatory commissions are created to regulate aspects of society
• Government corporations provide services the government wants to offer to the public, often best provided through private methods

Bureaucratic Organizations (General)

• Bureaucratic organizations write, enforce, and issue fines for non-compliance of regulations
• Interact with Congress
• The federal bureaucracy is composed of millions of people across various agencies and departments

Branch Responsibilities (General)

• Legislative branch passes laws
• Judicial branch interprets laws
• Executive branch ensures people abide by laws

Delegated Discretionary Authority (General)

• No specific details were provided for this section