Write an essay writing about american government class

The topic of essay one will be bureaucratic institutions. As you'll find out when you read Chapter Eight of the textbook, the executive branch of the American government has many, many bureaucratic institutions which help it to carry out daily governance. Some of these institutions help organize domestic politics (like the Department of Education), some conduct foreign policy (like the Department of State), and some do so many things that we aren't even sure of what their responsibilities are (like the National Security Agency).

If you need help choosing a bureaucratic institution, you can peruse the list on this page: http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/index.shtml
Any institution categorized as part of the executive branch on that page is a valid topic for the essay. Further, if you picked a topic for your essay and can't find it on this list (or the list includes it in a category other than the executive branch), that topic is probably not valid. If you're confused or need help picking a topic, email me or come to my office hours!

You will be required to choose one of these bureaucratic institutions and perform the following tasks within a 2-4 page essay:

(1) Describe the bureaucratic institution's history. When was it formed? What was its original purpose? Who were the important leaders that helped define this institution?

(2) Describe the day-to-day activities of this institution. What are its responsibilities? How does it ensure its tasks are carried out? Have these responsibilities changed since the institution was first created?

(3) Critique the institution's more recent actions/decisions (within the past 10 years). Do you agree or disagree with the work it has done? What would you change about its actions?