- Author:
- Timothy Kinsella
- Subject:
- Political Science
- Material Type:
- Module
- Level:
- Community College / Lower Division, College / Upper Division
- Provider:
- Ohio Open Ed Collaborative
- Tags:
- License:
- Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
- Language:
- English
- Media Formats:
- Text/HTML
Education Standards
American Politics and Government in the Information Age
Boundless Political Science
Development of the Bureaucracy - ushistory.org
The Organization of the Bureaucracy - ushistory.org
Video – Federal Bureaucracy Organization
Video – What is the Federal Bureaucracy?
The Federal Bureaucracy: Course Map & Recommended Resources
Overview
The Federal Bureaucracy
The resources included here are intended to map to the following learning objectives for an American Government Course:
- Explain the major functions of the American federal bureaucracy
- Classify the types of federal agencies within the federal bureaucracy
- Explain the policymaking process and power of the federal bureaucracy
- Identify the different internal and external actors of the federal bureaucracy
- Describe how other institutions exert control and enforce accountability over the federal bureaucracy
- Explain how the American federal bureaucracy has evolved over time
Recommended Textbooks
Main Text: American Government - Lumen Learning
Module 15: The Bureaucracy
Alternative Text: American Government and Politics in the Information Age
Chapter 15: The Courts
Alternative Text: Boundless Political Science
Web-Based and Multimedia Resources
Web-Based Resources
Multimedia Resources
Discussion Questions and Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
- Define the idea of bureaucracy. What are its key components (e.g. hierarchical authority)?
- Discuss the common image of bureaucracy that most people have. Do you believe that to be a fair image of bureaucracies? Why or why not? In thinking about this, consider the following characteristics that bureaucracies have: standardization, expertise and competence, and accountability.
- Describe the rulemaking power of federal agencies. How does the rulemaking power allow the public to be a part of the process of making laws?
Key Terms or Concepts (Define):
- Federal Register
- Independent agency
- Regulatory agency
- Government corporation
- Presidential commission
- Patronage
- Merit system
- Civil service system
- Office of Management and Budget
- Agency capture
- Whistleblowing Protection Act
- Street-level bureaucrats