2.12

• Bureaucracy


  • The people who are employed to carry out the federal government's responsibilities
  • Falls under the executive branch's authority
  • Structure: Cabinet Departments, Agencies, Independent Regulatory Commissions, Government corporations
  • Write & enforce regulations
  • Issuing fines
  • Interacting with Congress
  • Iron Triangles: Bureaucratic agencies interact with Congress & interest groups to influence policy
  • Issue Networks: Temporary alliances formed to promote a certain policy / agenda
• Civil Service Reform


  • Created a merit-based systems for applicants looking for bureaucratic jobs
  • People who were qualified to be in the bureaucracy
  • Increased the efficiency of the bureaucracy