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The Bureaucracy

The Bureaucracy. Questions you need to answer by the end of this chapter. Why are government bureaucracies necessary? What political decisions do bureaucrats make? Why is it so difficult to manage the bureaucracy?. Important concepts. The nature of bureaucracy The size of the bureaucracy

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The Bureaucracy

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  1. The Bureaucracy

  2. Questions you need to answer by the end of this chapter Why are government bureaucracies necessary? What political decisions do bureaucrats make? Why is it so difficult to manage the bureaucracy?

  3. Important concepts The nature of bureaucracy The size of the bureaucracy The organization of the federal bureaucracy Challenges to the bureaucracy Staffing the bureaucracy Modern attempts at bureaucratic reform Bureaucrats as politicians and policy makers Congressional control of the bureaucracy

  4. The Nature of Bureaucracy Bureaucracy- A large organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions Private vs. Public Bureaucracies

  5. Models of Bureaucracies Weberian Model- A model of bureaucracy developed by the German sociologist Max Weber, who viewed bureaucracies as rational, hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning. Acquisitive Model- A model of bureaucracy that views top-level bureaucrats as seeking to expand the size of their budgets and staffs to gain greater power.

  6. Models Contd…. Monopolistic Model- A model of bureaucracy that compares bureaucracies to monopolistic business firms. Lack of competition in either circumstance leads to ineficient and costly operations.

  7. Administrative Agencies A federal, state, or local government unit established to perform a specific function. Administrative agencies are created and authorized by legislative bodies to administer and enforce specific laws.

  8. The Size of the Bureaucracy

  9. Gov. Employment at the Federal, State, & Local There are more local government employees than federal or state employees combined

  10. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy

  11. Cabinet Departments One of the major service organizations of the federal government. They can also be described as line organizations- an administrative unit that is directly accountable to the president.

  12. Independent Executive Agencies • A federal agency that is not part of a Cabinet department but reports directly to the president. • EPA • Smithsonian • CIA

  13. Independent Regulatory Agencies • An agency outside the major executive departments charged with making and implementing rules and regulations • Administered outside of all 3 branches • Members are appointed by the president • Agency Capture- The act by which an industry being regulated by a government agency gains direct or indirect control over agency personnel and decision makers. • i.e. oil spill

  14. Deregulation and Reregulation • Reagan- deregulation (removal of regulatory constraints) • Bush- reregulation • Americans with Disabilities Act • Civil Rights Act • Clean Air Act Amendments • Cable Re-regulation • Clinton- deregulation and more regulation

  15. Government Corporations • An agency of government that administers a quasi-business enterprise. These corporations are used when activities are primarily commercial. • US Postal Service • AMTRAK

  16. Challenges to the Bureaucracy • Very complex and very specialized at the same time • Each agency, corp., or line department has its own mission • Jimmy Carter story • Now consider problems like……terrorism

  17. Department of Homeland Security (2003) 22 agencies were merged Now has more than 176,000 employees, $55 billion budget. Had to integrate agencies with very different missions Did not unify all of the anti-terrorist agencies

  18. Natural Disasters • Hurricane Katrina • FEMA • Army Corps of Engineers • National Guard • Energy • Health & Human Services • Housing & Urban Development • Education • Gulf of Mexico oil Spill

  19. Staffing the Bureaucracy • Political Appointees • “plum positions” • Still a very close screening process • Civil Servants • Much more formal process

  20. History of the Federal Civil Service

  21. Andrew Jackson (1828) • Spoils System • Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 (Pendleton Act)- established the principle of employment on the basis of merit and created the Civil Service Commission to administer the personnel service • Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 • OPM • MSPB • Hatch Act of 1939 • Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993

  22. Modern attempts at reform • Government in the Sunshine Act- A law that requires all committee-directed federal agencies to conduct their business regularly in public session • Information Disclosure…. Freedom of Information Act • Curbs on this since 9/11

  23. Sunset Laws Sunset Legislation- Laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically extended as a result of these reviews

  24. Privatization The replacement of government services with services provided by private firms

  25. Should we privatize the US Military? Is there any national security argument against using private contractors to do US military work?

  26. Incentives for efficiency & Productivity Government Performance and Results Act of 1997 Saving costs through E-government?

  27. Whistleblowers • Someone who brings to public attention gross governmental ineffiency or an illegal action • 1978 Civil Service reform act • Toll free hotlines • 1989 Whistle-Blower Protection Act • (OSC established) • 1986 False Claims Act • 2006…. Garcetti v. Ceballos

  28. Politicians & Policy Makers Enabling Legislation- a statute enacted by Congress that authorizes the creation of an administrative agency and specifies the name, purpose, composition, functions, and powers of the agency being created.

  29. The Rule-Making Environment • 1. federal Register • 2. final version is printed following comment period • 3. 60- day waiting period • Can be overturned by Congress • Court challenges

  30. Negotiated Rule Making • Negotiated Rule-making Act of 1990 • Allows those who will be affected by the rule to participate in the drafting process.

  31. Bureaucrats Are Policy Makers

  32. Iron Triangle The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests. Issue Networks- A group of individuals or organizations– which may consist of legislators and legislative staff members, interest group leaders, bureaucrats, the media, scholars, and other experts– that supports a particular policy position on a given issue.

  33. How can Congress control the B? • Power of the purse • Enabling legislation • Committees conduct investigations (congressional oversight) • (GAO) • (CBO) • Police Patrol • Fire alarm approach

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