The Bureaucracy

Days 44–46: Departments & Agencies

Ref: DB-L3-W9B
Unit: Machinery

Student Name: _________________________________________________

Date: ____________

The "Fourth Branch"

The Federal Bureaucracy consists of the millions of people who work for the government to implement and enforce policy. While the President is the head, the bureaucracy is so large and powerful that it is often called the "Fourth Branch" of government.

Its primary function is implementation—taking the broad goals of a law passed by Congress and turning them into specific rules and actions that affect people’s lives.

Structure

The bureaucracy is organized into four main groups: Cabinet Departments, Independent Agencies, Regulatory Commissions, and Govt. Corporations.

The Cabinet

15 Executive Departments headed by "Secretaries" who advise the President.

State: Manages foreign policy.
Treasury: Manages money/taxes.
Defense: Manages military.
Justice: Led by Attorney General; enforces federal laws.

Independent Agencies

Agencies created by Congress that operate outside the Cabinet departments.

NASA: Space exploration.
EPA: Protecting the environment.
CIA: Intelligence gathering.
FCC: Regulating TV and radio.

Implementation Power

Rulemaking & Accountability

1. Why did Congress create Independent Regulatory Commissions (like the FCC or SEC) to be separate from the President's direct control?

2. How does the Cabinet help the President "execute" the law across so many different areas (education, energy, agriculture)?

3. Research Check: Find the names of two other Cabinet departments not listed on page 1. What do they do?

Executive Bureaucracy Reader

Executive Bureaucracy Reader