GOV 2.4

 

The United States is consistently growing and changing over time. As the nation grows, the government needs to change and adapt as well to meet the needs and wants of its citizens. The bureaucracy implements and carries out the laws created by Congress by administering regulations to ensure its success. It is more than just the president and vice president doing the work; the executive branch is a machine with many working parts that work with and without the control of the president. It takes a team to promote the common good, and that is what the different parts of the executive branch try to achieve.

What the Bureaucracy Does for You Assessment

You should have a keen understanding of bureaucracy. Now it's time to take a deeper dive into parts of it that work on areas of life you care about. You are encouraged to present your work on this task creatively, but this What the Bureaucracy Does for You Template will help you organize your work.

1. Select two bureaucratic organizations from the list below, which could be one of the Cabinet departments, executive offices, or independent regulatory agencies. Your choices can be from the same or different parts of the bureaucracy. Research each organization using its own website. Use this information to respond in a complete paragraph to each of the following prompts:
   
   
   • What does this organization do? Include at least one image that represents this organization's responsibilities. Be sure to explain how the image represents the organization's responsibilities.
      
   • How does this organization help fulfill the duties of the executive branch under the Constitution?
      
   • Summarize a news event related to this office/agency from within the last year.
      
   • How does this organization affect your life and community? Include two specific examples in your response.
      
2. Organize your work. A creative presentation format, such as a slideshow, is encouraged. Cite all of your sources of information in MLA Citation Style.

 

You may select any two from this list or their subordinate bureaus and agencies. For example, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Contact your instructor if you wish to research an organization not represented on this list.

Cabinet Departments and Selected Subordinate Agencies

• Department of Agriculture
  • Farm Service Agency
• Department of Commerce
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • U.S. Census Bureau
• Department of Defense
• Department of Education
  • Federal Student Aid
• Department of Energy
• Department of Health and Human Services
  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Department of Homeland Security
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)
• Department of the Interior
  • National Park Service (NPS)
• Department of Justice
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Department of Labor
  • Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS)
  • Women's Bureau
• Department of State
  • Bureau of Counterterrorism
• Department of Transportation
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
• Department of the Treasury
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Veterans Benefits Administration

Executive Office of the President

• Council of Economic Advisers
• Council of Environmental Quality
• National Security Council
• Office of Administration
• Office of Management and Budget
• Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Office of the United State Trade Representation
• President's Intelligence Advisory Board and Intelligence Oversight Board
• White House Military Office
• White House Office

Independent Agencies and Government Corporations

• Americorps
• Amtrak
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Labor Relations Authority
• General Services Administration
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• United States Postal Service (USPS)

 

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, is provided here as a sample for your assessment. Thus, you may not use it in your work. (Remember that you need to profile two organizations.) All of the information shown in this sample response was identified through pages within the FinCEN website, especially the "About" and "Newsroom" sections.

What does this organization do? Include at least one image that represents this organization's responsibilities with your written response.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, is a protector of the U.S. financial system. This means it seeks to prevent and investigate suspected financial crimes like money laundering and funding terrorism. This is where criminals take money that was gained through illegal activity and they hide it through funding legitimate activities. They make it appear that the money came from a legal source. FinCEN uses technology to find data that could be evidence in financial crimes. They say they "follow the money." FinCEN provides reports on their findings to law enforcement agencies at all levels of government.

How does this organization help fulfill the duties of the executive branch under the Constitution?

Article II establishes the executive branch as responsible for carrying out the laws. FinCEN creates and interprets regulations related to the financial industry. It helps enforce laws against financial crimes by providing information to law enforcement agencies. It identifies, analyzes, maintains, and shares data not only with law enforcement but also with policymakers, regulatory agencies, and the intelligence community. All of these activities are part of fulfilling the duties of the executive branch by addressing financial crimes. 
 

Summarize a news event related to this office/agency from within the last year.

On November 1, 2022, FinCEN reported that ransomware continues to be "a significant threat" to national and economic security. The number of attacks increased from the prior year. It said about 75% of ransomware attacks in the last six months of 2021 traced to individuals in Russia. It said analyzing these attacks is part of its fight against money laundering and terrorism funding. Its news release mentions FinCEN's goal to "enhance transparency" which is one of the features of the rule of law principle. 

How does this organization affect your life and community? Include two specific examples in your response.

FinCEN is one of those bureaucratic agencies that the less you hear about them, probably the better. I had not heard of them before, but now I know they help in combating financial fraud. They have helped stop drug traffickers and terrorists. They have helped stop people who might trick me, my family, or friends online into giving up information to where they could steal from us. Unless you work in law enforcement, you might not have heard about FinCEN. But the work they do to support law enforcement in my community, state, country, and global helps to keep me and my loved ones safe from criminals and terrorists.

“United States Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.” United States Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network | FinCEN.gov, https://www.fincen.gov/.