The Federal Bureaucracy

AP Government The Federal Bureaucracy

Below you will find brief summaries of existing federal laws that are carried out by the executive branch of government. How would you enforce/execute the law if you worked in the federal bureaucracy?

Family and Medical Leave Act  It is required that all businesses allow their employees up to three months time off from work to care for a new born child or to care for an ailing family member.

Fair Housing Act  No real estate agent or real estate firm shall “steer” clients to and from specific neighborhoods.  No real estate agent may discriminate on the basis of race.

Americans with Disabilities Act  All public and private businesses must ensure that entrances, exits and bathrooms are accessible to customers who use wheelchairs.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title II Public Accommodations  No public or private business can refuse service to minority customers.

Directions: You will work in pairs to answer the following hypothetical questions that are assigned to you. (Everyone will also answer # 9). You will share your responses aloud and compare them to other groups with the same question. The class will evaluate your responses by acting as members of Congress. Congress will take actions in response to how well you did your job.

1. You work for the Department of Labor. Your job is to write a regulation for the Federal Register*to execute the Family and Medical Leave Act. Write three regulations that will make this law more specific for businesses that may have questions.

2. You work for the Department of Labor. Your job is to enforce the family and medical Leave Act. List three ways you will ensure this law is carried out properly by businesses throughout the country.

3. You work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Your job is to write a regulation for the Federal Register to execute the Fair Housing Act. Write three regulations that will make this law more specific for Real Estate Agents who might have questions. 4. You work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Your job is to Enforce the Fair Housing Act. List three ways to ensure that this law is carried out by businesses across the country.

5. You work for the Department of Commerce. Your lob is to carry out the Americans with Disabilities Act. Write three regulations that will make the law more specific.

6. You work for the Department of Commerce. Your lob is to carry out the Americans with Disabilities Act. List three ways you will ensure that this law is carried out properly by businesses across the country.

7. You work for the Equal Opportunity Commission of the US Department of Justice. Your job is to write a regulation in the Federal Register to carry out Title II (public accommodations) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Write three regulations that will make this law more specific.

8. You work for the Equal Opportunity Commission of the US Department of Justice. Your job is to enforce Title II of the Civil Rights Act. List three ways you will ensure that this law is carried out properly by businesses across the country.

9. As a group – design and describe an iron triangle that would go with the question you addressed.

* NOTE: The Federal Register is the daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.

AP Government and Politics Workshop Rebecca Small, Consultant