The InstitutionsThe Institutions

Unit IVCUnit IVC

The BureaucracyThe Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy A systematic and hierarchical organization

in government established to develop and implement policies and regulations in relation to enacted legislation

Principles Hierarchical Authority

Pyramid structure Job Specialization

Division of labor; specific duties and responsibilities for each individual position

Rules and Regulations Established regulations and procedures for facilitation

Development of the Federal Bureaucracy

Early Constitutional Period Small number of agencies and positions Selection based on qualifications and political affiliation

Antebellum Period Jackson and the spoils system

Late 19th Century Reform movements Pendleton Act/Civil Service Act of 1883

Merit system, competitive exams; limited partisan politics Established Civil Service Commission to enforce

Modern Bureaucracy Agencies grew substantially due to New Deal programs, cooperative

federalism Hatch Act (1939)

Limited political activities on duty, use of position for campaigns Civil Service Reform Act of 1978

Established Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Established government employee classifications and salaries, training and

recruitment programs Protection of whistleblowers

Growth of Modern Bureaucracy

Power and Justification Evolving Government for Evolving World

Technological development, efficient communication, world affairs, globalization require increased diligence and vigilance

Buddy System Agencies may request to fill a position and specifically

name an individual for the job Difficulty of Termination

Numerous steps to ultimately fire a government employee

Official record of chronic behavior, substantial evidence, public hearings, viable witnesses, right of due process, appeals

Federal Bureaucracy Organization

Executive Departments Cabinet-level executive agencies established for

specific policy areas Independent Executive Agencies

Established for policy areas but regarded more as think tanks, analysis, and information

Some major administrative agencies Independent Regulatory Agencies

Agencies that regulate and police; enforcers of legislation

Administrative legislation Government Corporations

Business-like agencies usually providing goods and services

The Executive Departments

Dept. of State Foreign affairs

Dept. of Treasury Prints currency; collects

revenue/taxes; IRS Dept. of Defense Dept. of Justice

FBI; ATF; DEA Dept. of Interior

Federal land and natural resources; native relations and territory administration

Dept. of Agriculture Dept. of Commerce Dept. of Labor

Dept. of Health and Human Services

Dept. of Housing and Urban Development

Dept. of Transportation Dept. of Energy Dept. of Education Dept. of Veterans’

Affairs Dept. of Homeland

Security Coast Guard, ICE, Secret

Service

Independent Executive Agencies

Small Business Administration (SBA) Promote small businesses and economic

recovery Social Security Administration (SSA)

Social security checks and applications National Aeronautic and Space

Administration (NASA) Air and space exploration and technology

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Foreign policy information; espionage

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Prevent monopolies; consumer protection

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Securities, stocks, bonds, commodity trading

Federal Reserve Monetary policy

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Federal Elections Commission (FEC) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Civil aviation Environmental Protection Agency Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Employee safety and working standards Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Government Corporations

Tennessee Valley Authority AMTRAK (National Railroad Passenger

Corporation) United States Postal Service (USPS)

Mail delivery Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

(FDIC) Government enterprises

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac

Bureaucrats as Policymakers Iron Triangles

Bureaucratic AgencyBureaucratic Agency Receive increased power Receive increased power

and appropriationsand appropriations Congressional CommitteeCongressional Committee

Receive electoral support Receive electoral support and campaign contributionsand campaign contributions

Interest GroupsInterest Groups Interests satisfiedInterests satisfied

Designed for mutual benefit Issue Networks

Congressional StaffCongressional Staff Experts/ProfessorsExperts/Professors Interest GroupsInterest Groups Mass MediaMass Media Designed for the benefit of

public interest

Controlling the Bureaucrats

Congress Authorization

Permitting funds by related committees Appropriations

Determination of amount allocated by Appropriations Committee

Oversight Supervision and investigations by committees

Legislative Authority Pass laws to limit or terminate an agency

Supreme Court Rule a policy/law/executive action

unconstitutional

Bureaucratic Issues/Problems Red Tape

Complex rules and procedures to accomplish tasks “Make sure the government is being equal and just.” ‘Too much paperwork. Slows down process. Frustrating for constituents.’

Conflict Rivalries between agencies on similar policies ‘Sometimes the goal/objective is overlooked by competition.’

Duplication Agencies performing same or similar tasks “Congress doesn’t know what it’s doing, but they made the laws so we

follow them.”

Imperialism Increase of agency’s power and influence no matter the cost “We interpreted the vague law as best we could and developed our

policies in accordance. Tell Congress to write clearer laws.”

Waste Inefficient use of funding and manpower; spending too much “Why lower costs? We’re the government. There’s plenty.” ‘Lining the pockets of bureaucrats and lobbyists.’