10/6/2015 copyright © 2009 pearson education, inc. publishing as longman. the federal bureaucracy...

04/19/23 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman.

The Federal Bureaucracy

Chapter 15

Edwards, Wattenberg, and LineberryGovernment in America: People, Politics, and

PolicyFourteenth Edition

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman.04/19/23

MAH - CH 15 - THE NEW DEAL

2


Defintion

Classic conception of bureaucracy (Max Weber)—a hierarchical authority structure that use task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality

Bureaucracies govern modern states/business


Modern Bureaucracy

More than 2.7 million employees

Most are selected based on merit.

Less diverse than America.

Growth of outside contractors.


The BureaucratsSome Bureaucratic MythsMost Americans rate bureaucracy highFederal bureaucracies is getting smallerOnly 10-12% work in DC areaFederal bureaucracies are effective,

efficient Rated the same as private businesses.


THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IS LESS THAN 1945.

GOVERNMENT NOW DOES MORE SO…BUREAUCRACIES ARE MORE POWERFUL

HAVE MORE DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY


Growth ofGovernment

Back


CivilianEmployment

Back


Who Are The Bureaucrats– Most demographically representative part of government– Diversity of jobs mirrors the private sector


FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DEMOGRAPHICS

1994 2003


Employee Characteristics

Back


THE UNIQUENESS OF THE AMERICAN BUREAUCRACY

1-POLITICAL AUTHORITY IS SHARED DIFFERENT BRANCHES & AGENCIESWITH STATE AND LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS

2-AMERICA’S ADVERSARIAL CULTURE


BUREAUCRACY INCREASED WITH THE NEW DEAL (1930’s)GREAT SOCIETY (1960’s)“OBAMACARE” ?? (2012- )

Private insurance required/Medicaid expansion

More government regulations

DEREGULATION (80’S)‘REAGAN REVOLUTION’


The BureaucratsPatronage: job given for political reasons

Civil Service: based on merit and nonpartisanship Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Merit Principle: Entrance examsPromotion based on evaluations

Hatch Act No participation in partisan politics by bureaucrats


Characteristics of Bureaucracy

Chain of command (top down).

Division of labor.

Clear lines of authority.

Goal orientation.

Merit system.

Emphasis on Productivity.


How Bureaucracies Are Organized

The Cabinet DepartmentsFifteen Cabinet departments

Headed by a secretary Department of Justice (Attorney

General)

Each has its own budget, staff, & policy areas


How Bureaucracies Are Organized


The Executive Branch

Back


Independent Regulatory Agencies

Responsible for some sector of the economyWatched by interest groups, media, citizens

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)


The Government CorporationsBusiness-like–provide services like private

companies and typically charge for themPostal Service and Amtrak

Independent Executive AgenciesThe agencies that don’t fit in anywhere else

General Services Administration (GSA)NASA


Bureaucracies as Implementers

What Implementation Means

– Creating and assigning an agency the policy

– Translating policy into rules, regulations, forms

– Coordinating resources to achieve the goals


Why Bureaucracies Flunk the Implementation Test

Lack of Clarity

Lack of Resources

Administrative Routine

Fragmentation


IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENTA

LBUREAUCRACYTOO LARGE / POWERFUL?

EXPLAIN.

“POP” ESSAY

50 WORDSIN LESS THAN

5 MINUTES


Bureaucracies as Regulators

Regulation: use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector.

Regulation in the Economy & in Everyday Life


Back


All Regulations contain 3 elements

1=Congressional grant of power, set of directions

2=Rules & guidelines by the agency itself

3=Some means of enforcing compliance


Regulatory StrategiesCommand-and-Control Policy

Rules made tone followed

Incentive System Market-like strategies (carrot & stick)

Agencies can be proactive or reactive.


Movement Towards Deregulation

Deregulation: the lifting of gov't restrictions

Problems with Regulations:Raises pricesHurts U.S.’s competitive position abroadDoes not always work well


Understanding Bureaucracies & Democracy

Presidents Try to Control the Bureaucracy

1. Appoint the right people2. Issue executive orders

Used to implement policies3. Alter an agency’s budget4. Create / Reorganize an agency



Congress Tries to Control the Bureaucracy

1. Influence appointment of agency heads

2. Alter an agency’s budget3. Hold oversight hearings4. Rewrite legislation5. Approve Budget


Iron Triangles or issue networks

A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees



Understanding Bureaucracy and the Scope of Government

The size of federal bureaucracy is an example of a government out of control.

Even though the size of the bureaucracy has shrunk.

Some agencies don’t have enough resources to do what they are expected to do.

Bureaucracies carry out Congressional policies


Summary

Bureaucracy’s primary responsibility is the implementation of public policy.

Bureaucrats shape policy as administrators, implementers, and regulators.

Federal bureaucracy has not grown but has in fact shrunk of late.


Agency Accountability (Limits on the Bureaucracy)

Back


Bureaucracies as Implementers

A Case Study: The Voting Rights Act of 1965– Generally considered a success– Had a clear, concise goal– The implementation was clear– Those carrying out the law had obvious

authority and vigor to do so.


WILSON CH 13 - THE BUREAUCRACY

OBJECTIVES1-DESCRIBE THE AMERICAN

MODEL OF GOVERNMENTAL BUREAUCRACY.

2-SKETCH THE HISTORY OF THE GROWTH OF BUREAUCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY.



OBJECTIVES3. SHOW HOW THE ROLES AND MISSIONS OF THE

AGENCIES ARE AFFECTED BY BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS.

4-LIST SOME PAST ATTEMPTS OF CONGRESS TO REFORM THE BUREAUCRACY. THEN EXPLAIN WY IT IS SO HARD TO REFORM THE BUREAUCRACY.

5-LIST THE “PATHOLOGIES” THAT MAY AFFECT BUREAUCRACIES.



IMPORTANT TERMS - SET 1ANNUAL AUTHORIZATIONAPPROPRIATIONAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATIONBUREAUCRACYCOMMITTEE CLEARANCECOMPETITIVE SERVICE



IMPORTANT TERMS - SET 1

DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITYEXPECTED SERVICEFREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACTIRON TRIANGLEISSUE NETWORKLAISSEZ-FAIRELEGISLATIVE VETONAME-REQUEST JOB



IMPORTANT TERMS - SET 1

PATRONAGEPENDLETON ACTRED TAPESENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICESPOILS SYSTEMTRUST FUNDS


WILSON CH 13-THE BUREAUCRACY

IMPORTANT TERMS

LEGISLATIVE VETONAME-REQUEST JOBNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT

NONCAREER EXECUTIVE ASSIGNMENTS

OPEN MEETING LAWWHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT



IMPORTANT TERMS

OVERSIGHTPATRONAGEPENDLETON ACTPRIVACY ACTRED TAPE



IMPORTANT TERMSSCHEDULE C JOBSENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICESPOILS SYSTEMTRUST FUNDWASTEWHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT



QUESTIONS

1-WHAT IS AN ACTUAL WORKING DEFINITION OF BUREAUCRATIC POWER?

2-WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH THE U.S. BUREAUCRACY CONTRASTS WITH THOSE OF OTHER NATIONS?



QUESTIONS3-SHOULD MORE MEMBERS OF THE

BUREAUCRACY BE ELECTED? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER

4-WHAT FACTORS ACCOUNT FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF BUREAUCRATS? RANK THESE IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.



QUESTIONS5-DEFINE THE BUDDY SYSTEM AS IT

APPLIES TO FEDERAL HIRING. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SUCH A SYSTEM?

6-ARE BUREAUCRATS MOTIVATED TO KEEP COSTS DOWN? WHY OR WHY NOT.

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