Max Weber
Invented classic conception of bureaucracy. Stressed it was a "rational" way for a modern society to conduct its business. Felt a bureaucracy depended upon certain elements, including a hierarchial authority structure, task specialization, and extensive r
patronage system
How bureaucracie jobs were given out until about 100 years ago. a hiring and promotion system based on "knowing the right people" 19th Century presidents staffed the Govt. with their friends and allies.
Civil Services System
the way bureaucracies are covered today. The rationale for all civil service systems rests on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Group in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government.
Senior Executive Service
About 9,000 of these people are at the very top of the civil service system. These executives earn high salaries and may be moved from one agency to another as leadership needs change.
The Plum Book
Another route to federal Jobs, is recruiting from this book, which lists top federal jobs available for direct presidential appointment (often with senate confirmation).
Four Types of Bureaucracies
Cabinet Departments, Regulatory Agencies, Government Corporations, and independent executive agencies.
Cabinet Departments
Each is headed by a secretary (except Justice, headed by A.G.). Head must be appointed by president, and approved by the senate. Each department manages specific policy areas, and each has its own budget and staff.
Regulatory Agencies
Each of these has responsibility for some sector of the economy. These agencies make and enforce rules designed to protect the public interest; They also judge disputes over these rules. ex: FCC, SEC, FTC.
Government Corporations
Perform Services for a fee. Ex: Amtrak, TVA, Post Office
Independent Executive Agencies
These are not part of the cabinet departments and generally do not have regulatory functions. They usually perform specialized functions. Ex: National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA
Three key roles Bureaucrats play as policymakers
They are Policy implementors,; they Implement public policy; and they are regulators.
Policy Implementation
This occurs when the bureaucracy carries out decisions of congress, the president, and even the courts. Public parties are barely self-executing: bureaucrats translate legislative policy goals into programs.
Administrative discretion
The authority of administratice actors to select among carious responses to a given problem.
Street-level bureaucrats
phrase coined by Michael Lipsky. Refers to those bureaucrats who are in constant contact with the public and have considerable discretion (including police officers, welfare workers, and lower court judges)
Voting Rights act of 1965
illustrates a program that was successfully implemented because its goal was clear; to register african americans to vote in southern counties where their voting rights had been denied for years.
Government Regulation
use of governmental authority to control of change some practice in the private sector.
command-and-control policy
Charles L Schultze described current state of fed. regulation as this: The government tells business how to reach certain goals, checks that these commands are followed, and punishes offenders.
Incentive system
according to Charles Schultze, a more effective and efficient policy than command-and-control; in the incentive system, market-like strategies are used to manage public policy.
deregulation
lifting of government restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities
Idea behind deregulation
That the number and complexity of regulatory policies have made regulation too complicated and burdensome.
Good things as a result of govt. regulation
We breathe cleaner air, we have lower levels of lead in our blood, miners are safer at work, seacoasts have been preserved, and children are more likely to survive infancy.
mutual dependency
each element provides key services, information, or policy for the others
pendleton civil service act (1883)
merit; creating the civil service (exams)
Hatch Act (1939)
A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
recruits and recommends individuals and oversees promotions through the office of personal management (OPM) and the Merit System Protection board, which reviewed complaints about unjustified actions taken by political appointees against well qualified wor
Defense, Social Security, and Major Health Programs
Most of US budget goes towards....
Presidents Attempt to control Bureaucracy
1. Chief Administrator 2. fills 3000 jobs; federalist #72; Most important positions, the cabinet, must be approved by congress. The cabinet serves to support the administrations policies.
Congress attempt to control the bureaucracy
1. advice and consent. 2. GAO and hearings (legislative oversight) 3. power of the purse 4. creates rules (laws); sunset legislation.
Judicial Branch attempt to control bureaucracy
reviews the decisions of the bureaucracy (judicial review)
Whistleblower Protection Act (1989)
Created an office of special counsel to investigate complaints from bureaucrats claiming they were punished after reporting to congress about waste, fraud or abuse in their agencies.
Freedom of Information Act (1966)
gives citizens the right to inspect all government records except those containing military, intelligence, or trade secrets or material revealing private personal actions
Administrative Procedure Act (1946)
requires federal agencies to give notice, solicit comments, and (sometimes) hold public hearings before adopting any new rules.
Executive Order 12291 (1981)
No new regulations unless the benefits outweigh the costs; OMB-DEREGULATION
Government Shutdown
To get their agendas passed Presidents resort to attaching key policy initiatives to spending bills >>>>>>>>>Congress disagrees >>>> SHUTDOWN >>>>>Continuing Resolutions (Compromise)
Free market advocates:
1. If the producer is faced with expensive regulations, costs will inevitably be passed along to the consumer in the form of higher prices. 2. Regulations do not always work well, and they simply create massive regulatory bureaucracies. 3. Developing nati
Big Government Advocates
1.The market can nor regulate itself : 2008 financial meltdown 2. Consumers need to be protected: peanut recall; lead in chinese toys 3. excesses of capitalism: gilded age income disparity; middle class.