Bureaucratic Tasks

Announcements:

Bureaucratic Agencies Quiz: Thursday, December 5th

Executive Branch (Presidency & Bureaucracy) Quiz: Monday, December 9th

Congressional Quiz Retakes: If you are not satisfied with your performance on the quiz over the legislative branch, you may opt to take a retake of that quiz. Please complete at least six assigned Khan Academy modules before the retake.

READING: 409-440 in Edwards

UNIT TWO IDENTIFICATION TERMS
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Today's Essential Question: How do bureaucracies help carry out the responsibilities of the federal government?

Learning Standards:

PMI-2.A: Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.

PMI-2.A.1: Tasks performed by departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations are represented by:

• Writing and enforcing regulations 
• Issuing fines 
• Testifying before Congress 
• Issue networks and “iron triangles”

PMI-2.B: Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule-making and implementation.

PMI-2.B.1: Discretionary and rule-making authority to implement policy are given to bureaucratic departments, agencies, and commissions, such as:

• Department of Homeland Security 
• Department of Transportation 
• Department of Veterans Affairs 
• Department of Education w Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
• Federal Elections Commission (FEC) 
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

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Bureaucratic Tasks and Administrative Discretion

The role of the federal bureaucracy is to help implement and carry out the laws. However, many bureaucracies also have broad discretionary and rule-making authority (sometimes referred to as administrative discretion) that enable bureaucracies to have quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers.

Why is it advantageous to grant these powers to bureaucracies instead of Congress? Why does Congress allow this to happen? What drawbacks are there to this system?

1. Watch this Khan Academy video on how the bureaucracy uses its delegated discretionary authority on rule-making and implementation. Please use your earbuds while watching the video.



2.  Read this article, Should Agencies Decide Laws? and answer the following questions in your notes.

• Explain what is meant by the Chevron deference. What is the main argument in favor of the Chevron deference?
• Why do some, like Justice Gorsuch, oppose the Chevron deference?
• How have Republicans and Democrats both used the Chevron deference to their advantage?
• In your opinion, should the Chevron deference be overturned? Why or why not?

3. Next, we are going to look at various bureaucracies and research the various tasks that they perform to help carry out the responsibilities of the federal bureaucracy. Choose one of the listed  bureaucracies below. For your bureaucracy you must conduct research and find examples of the bureaucracy engaging in each of these different activities:

• Administrative discretion or rule making-find an example where the bureaucracy was involved in rule-making or deference in administering the law
• Enforcement--find an example where the bureaucracy is carrying out intended policy or fining/punishing violations of a policy
• Congressional Testimony--find an example where the bureaucracy is testifying in a congressional committee (could be budgetary, policy, or congressional oversight)

Record your findings either in a GoogleDoc with links or include them in your notes. Be prepared to share your research in class tomorrow.

You should first start with the webpage of the bureaucratic agency and then move on to Google News and other sources (Washington Post) to find examples. Try to use recent examples (within the last 2-3 years). 

Bureaucratic Agencies

1. FDA

2. EPA

3. Department of Education

4. Department of Veterans Affairs

5. FEC

6. FCC

7. Department of Homeland Security

Video Review