Most Americans have a (positive/negative) view of the federal bureaucracy
Negative
Political philosopher related to bureaucracy
Max Weber
Bureaucratic agencies
Are created and funded by congress, but report to the president. This is an indication of the complex nature of the organization and functioning of federal government bureaucracies
Bureaucracy
A large, complex organization of appointed, not elected, officials. Exist in many countries, and in many areas of life (corporations, universities, local and state governments)
Max Weber
One of the first modern people to think seriously about the importance of bureaucracy. Described it as a well-organized, complex machine that is a "rational" way for modern society to organize its business. Thought bureaucracy was the best organizational
Weber's (6) characteristics of a bureaucracy
Hierarchical authority structure: A change of command in which the top bureaucrat has ultimate control and authority flows from the top down
Task specialization: A clear division of labor in which every individual has a specialized job
Extensive rules: cl
4 Characteristics that separate the American bureaucracy from other bureaucracies
Divided supervision: Congress has the power to create, organize, and disband all federal agencies. Most of them are under the control of the president, although few have direct contact with him.
Close public scrutiny: government agencies in this country o
Mentions of bureaucracy in the Constitution
Not really mentioned. The president is responsible for appointing public officials, including ambassadors, judges, and "all other officers of the United STates who appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law.
Spoils system
Created by President Andrew Jackson to reward party loyalists by giving them government positions.
The development of the bureaucracy
Began in 1789 when congress created the Department of State to assist the Secretary of State.
From 1789 to 1829, the bureaucracy was drawn from an upper-class, white male elite.
1829, Andrew Jackson and the spoils system changed the bureaucracy to include
The Pendleton Act
Passed after President Garfield was assassinated in 1881 by a disappointed office seeker. Limited the merit system for appointing federal offices. (People argued that presidents were "selling" positions or using them as bribes". Federal service placed und
Civil Service commission
Supervises a testing program to evaluate candidates (politics and loopholes get in the way of this). Federal employees are to be selected and retained according to merit, not loyalty.
The Civil Service Commission was split into two agencies
The Office of Personal Management and the Merit Systems Protection Board
The office of personal management
Administers civil service laws, rules, and regulations. Administers written exams for the competitive service. In charge of hiring for most agencies. Once hired, a person is assigned a GS (General Schedule) Rating, which determines salaries.
The merit systems protection board
Protects the integrity of the federal merit system and the rights of federal employees. The board hears charges of wrongdoing and employee appeals against agency actions and order disciplinary actions against agency executives and employees
The Federal bureaucracy grew tremendously under
Roosevelt's New Deal
One reason for the growth of governments on state and local levels, while federal employment remains steady is
Many recently created federal programs are administered at the lower levels of government, not by federal employees
Who are the bureaucrats?
In the executive branch in 15 cabinet-level departments and more than 50 independent agencies. Includes about 2,000 bureaus, offices, services, and other subdivisions
Most people still think of white, middle-aged men, but the permanent bureaucracy is more
Makeup of federal civilian employees
57% male, 43% female
73% white, 27% black, asian, native american, or hispanic
33% in the defense department, 26% postal service, 41% other agencies
10% work in Washington, 90% in other areas of the US
Four basic types of agencies in the executive branch
Cabinet departments, Independent regulatory agencies, government corporations, and independent executive agencies
Cabinet departments
Each headed by a secretary, except the department of justice (attorney general). All heads are chosen by president and approved by senate, each manages a specific policy area. Each department is organized somewhat differently, but the read work is done in
2004 Intelligence Bill (Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act)
Following 9-11. Overhaul of the nation's intelligence gathering apparatus. Created a position for a Director of National Intelligence. Put 15 different intelligence agencies under the control of the director. Created a national counter-terrorism center to
Independent Regulatory Agencies
Regulate important parts of the economy, making rules for large industries and businesses that affect the interests of the public. "Watchdogs" that need to operate independently; not part of a department, most are not controlled by the president.
Independent Regulatory agencies to know
ICC: Interstate commerce Commission: Oldest regulatory agency. First regulated railroads, now oversees trucking as well
FTC: Federal Trade Commission: regulates business practices and controls monopolies
NLRB: National Labor Relations Board: regulates lab
Government corporations
Blend of private corporation and government agency. Created to allow more freedom and flexibility than exists in regular government agencies. Have more control over their budgets, and often have the right to decide how to use their earnings. However, they
Government corporations to know
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting: operates public radio and television stations. Largely funded by private donations, but the government still provides polices and money to support their programs.
The Tennessee Valley Authority: Created as a New De
Independent Executive Agencies
Closely resemble cabinet departments, but are smaller and less complex. Narrower areas of responsibility than cabinet departments. Most are subject to presidential control and are independent only in the sense that they are not part of a department. Main
Example of Independent Executive Agency (see Executive branch set for full list)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
What do Bureaucrats do?
Make policies and choose actions that are not spelled out in advance by laws. (Congress can make laws, but cannot follow through on all the little decisions that have to be made when those laws are implemented). Main function: to do the nuts and bolts of
Implementation and bureaucrats
Policies do not implement themselves. Bureaucrats develop procedures and rules for implementing policy goals, and the manage the routines of government, such as delivering mail and collecting taxes.
Regulation and bureaucrats
All sorts of activities are subject to federal regulation (from automobile production to the buying and selling of stock to the production and distribution of meat and poultry). Agencies do this regulation, with the grant of power from congress.
The way that agencies go about regulating
Agencies first receive a grant of power from Congress to sketch out the means of executing broad policy decisions. Next, the agency develops a set of guidelines to govern an industry. Then the must apply and enforce those rules and guidelines, often throu
Accountability and bureaucrats
The biggest difference between a government agency and a private organization is the number of constraints placed on agencies from other parts of the government. A government bureau cannot hire, fire, build, or sell without going through procedures set by
Congress over sees the bureaucracy in 4 main ways
Duplication: Congress rarely gives one job to a single agency. This often leads to contradictions among agencies and inhibits the responsiveness of the government, but it prevents any one agency from becoming too powerful.
Authorization: no agency may spe
Appropriation (of funds)
Money formally set aside for a specific use, and usually less than the amount authorized
The President: impressing policy preferences on agencies (4)
Appointments: the president appoints senior bureaucrats.
Executive orders: A president may issue executive orders that agencies must obey. For this reason, agencies usually pay attention to the president's wishes
Economic powers: The president may use the
Iron Triangle
Alliances among bureaucrats, interest groups, and congressional subcommittee members and staff. To promote common causes. The place where real decisions are made.
Congress provides funding and political support to the bureaucracy, which listens to congres
Issue network
People in interests groups, congressional staff, people in universities, and in the media who are embedded (not in the iron triangle) here, and provide counter-demands that prevent the system from running smoothly.
The merit system
Tries to ensure that the best qualified people get government jobs and that party politics (patronage) have nothing to do with the hiring process.
Hatch Act (1939)
Requires employees, once hired, to have as little to do with political parties as possible. Forbids employees from engaging in many party activities.
Congress softened this act after many complained their 1st amendment rights were being violated
Criticism of the bureaucracy (6)
Red tape: the maze of government rules, regulations, and paperwork makes it so overwhelming to citizens that many people try to avoid contact
Conflict: agencies work at cross purposes
Duplication: Two agencies appear to be doing the same thing
Unchecked g
Suggestions for reform (5) of the bureaucracy
Limiting appointment to 6-12 years: after which, reexamination would be required along with performance review
Making it easier to fire bureaucrats: rules meant to protect workers from partisan politics would be removed
Rotating professionals between agen