The Federal Bureaucracy

During this topic, you explored the function and structure of the federal bureaucracy. Each of the 15 executive departments is led by a Secretary, who is a member of the Cabinet. These departments are created by the legislative branch, but answer directly to the President. There are also dependent government agencies within these departments.

Additionally, there are independent government agencies that are separate from the executive departments. These agencies are basically self-regulated and may be classified into three categories. There are independent executive agencies, regulatory commissions, and government corporations.

These numerous government positions used to be filled through the spoils system, which was replaced by a Civil Service exam after President Garfield's assassination. This ensured that competent individuals were hired into these positions and also prevented the large employee turnover when administrations changed.

You also learned about the Executive Office of the President. The EOP consists of some of the President's closest advisors, including the White House Chief of Staff, the Press Secretary, and the National Security Advisor. These positions serve at the discretion of the President and do not require approval by the Senate.