The Bureaucracy, Part 1

Using pages 414-422 answer the following questions.

Chapter 15, Section 1: The Federal Bureaucracy (pp. 414-418)

  1. Define bureaucracy.
  1. Give examples of bureaucracies we see all over the place.
  1. Fill in the chart below to describe/explain the three features of a bureaucracy?

Feature of Bureaucracy / Explanation/Description / Benefit
Hierarchical authority
Job Specialization
Formalized rules
  1. In what ways did the US Constitution hint at or even formally create the federal Bureaucracy?
  1. Define administration
  1. What’s the key definition/differences between these bureaucratic names?

Term / Definition/difference / Example
  1. Department

  1. Agency/
Administration
  1. Commission

  1. Corporation/Authority

  1. Bureau/service/office/branch, etc.

  1. Look at the chart on page 417 and answer the bold faced question at the bottom of the page.
  1. Define/explain the difference between a “staff agency” versus a “line agency”.
  1. Explain how the Executive Office of the President and Environmental Protection Agency examples help clarify.

Chapter 15, Section 2: The Executive Office of the President (pp. 419-422)

  1. Read the first two paragraphs of this section. What’s the point?
  1. What is the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?
  1. Read the entire section on the “White House Office”. In a sentence or two, summarize the function of this part of the bureaucracy.
  1. Use the diagram on page 420 to explain what goes on in the “West Wing” of the White House.
  1. What does the “chief of staff” do? Check on your phone—who is Trump’s pick for Chief of Staff?
  1. Altogether, roughly how many people work in the White House Office?
  1. Read the section on the National Security Council—what’s its primary function?
  1. In general, what type of people make up the National Security Council?
  1. Read the section on the Office of Management and Budget. In a sentence or two summarize its major function.
  1. Define federal budget and fiscal year.
  1. Why is the federal budget more than just a financial plan?
  1. In general, who heads the OMB? Research who the current OMB is.
  1. Outline the basic steps of the creation of the budget.
  1. As you read the end of this section, complete the following chart.

Name of Agency / Function + other important details
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Council of Economic Advisors
Office of Policy Development
Council on Environmental Quality
Office of the Vice President
Office of the US Trade Representative
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office of Administration