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The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

The branch is defined as a defined system of administration which comprises the following features:

A defined hierarchy of authority.

Inflexible division of labor.

Rigid procedures, rules and regulations.

Impersonal relationships.

In most cases, bureaucracies are difficult to change. Bureaucrats normally make decisions which are difficult to change. These include the congress, president, and the Supreme Court.

Historical evolution and the changing nature of federal bureaucracy

The original system consisted of employees from the departments of State, Treasury and the war department. Initially, the system only employed the most qualified people to work in those departments. However, over decades, the system has changed it employs three million employees currently. Further, the methods and earlier standards followed when hiring and promoting employees have completely changed.

Functions of federal bureaucracy

It performs the primary roles in the government. This includes the following:

Implementation

In most cases, when the congress passes various laws, it also highlights the guidelines which should be followed to implement them. The executive has a duty to implement the all the directives, laws and regulations as enacted or issued by the legislative wing of the government.

Regulations

It also makes regulations which are followed when operating both the federal and state programs. This is mostly used when carrying out administrative processes. However, they can be challenged in court.

How bureaucracy works

It implements various laws passed by the congress. These are mostly influenced by the president and the Supreme Court. Further, it makes rules and regulations which are followed when implementing state programs and administrative processes. Strict rules and procedures are followed as this is a very sensitive department of state.