America ’ s Democratic Republic

2. America’s Democratic Republic Chapter 13: The Federal Bureaucracy

3. In This Chapter • What role the bureaucracy has in democratic and eighteenth-century republican doctrines • How and why the federal bureaucracy grew • Who bureaucrats are and what they do • How the executive branch is organized • Who and what influence bureaucratic decision making

5. 18th-Century Republican Doctrines • Wrote a Constitution that made it difficult for elected officials to create a large, expensive, and intrusive national government • Separation of Powers • Checks and Balances • The national government had a narrow range of interests

6. Transformation of the Bureaucracy • Post-Civil War • Rise of the corporation • Great Depression • World War II • Regulatory State • Devolution

8. Organization of Executive Branch • Departments • Independent executive agencies • Government corporations • Quasi-government corporations • Independent regulatory commissions • Foundations

9. What Do Bureaucrats Do? • Execute programs and policies • Regulate • Adjudicate • Broad discretion • Policymakers • Anti-democratic

12. Who Are The Bureaucrats? • Merit Services • Competitive Civil Service • Agency Merit Services • Excepted Authorities • Senior Executive Service • Civil Servants • Political Appointees

13. Political & Governmental Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior • President and the Bureaucracy • As chief executive, president is the formal head, yet • Ability to control the bureaucracy is limited • Size and complexity • Civil service regulations • Share authority with Congress and the courts

15. Political & Governmental Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior • Tools of Presidential Leadership • Prestige of office • Presidential popularity • Power of appointment • Power as chief budget office

16. Political & Governmental Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior • Congress and Bureaucracy • Legislates organization and mission • Confirms presidential appointees • Controls agencies’ budgets • Holds oversight hearings • Use of Inspectors General

18. Political & Governmental Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior • The Courts and the Bureaucracy • Agencies cannot violate the constitutional protections of the Bill of Rights • Must treat citizens equally • Must follow the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946

19. Political & Governmental Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior • The Public and the Press • Reports on content of public policies • Bureaucratic failures and successes • Scandals and disasters

20. Political & Governmental Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior • Interest Groups • Heavily lobby bureaucratic agencies • Through Congress • Directly • Formal comments on rules

21. Reforming the Bureaucracy • How? • Scale back size • Cut the fat • Privatize • Become more businesslike • Protect against abuse of power

23. Federal Bureaucracy and the Democratic Republic • Mixed feelings • Good • Most agencies carry out their missions • Dedication of civil servants • Bad • Bureaucratic agencies’ discretion • Agencies are largely unnoticed and • Too many • Agencies • Rules

24. Summary • The framers originally intended for federal government to act in a narrow range of activities • In the United States, the bureaucracy is the executive branch of the national government • Control of the bureaucracy is fragmented and complicated • Bureaucrats’ purpose is to regulate and adjudicate among other duties • Many have argued that the role of much of the bureaucracy could be more effectively carried out in the private sector

25. Question 1 • An example of a nonprofit bureaucratic organization is __________. • Microsoft • General Motors • Johnson & Johnson • The Girl Scouts

26. Answer • An example of a nonprofit bureaucratic organization is __________. • Microsoft • General Motors • Johnson & Johnson • The Girl Scouts

27. Question 2 • The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a __________. • Quasi-governmental organization • Structure organization • Private organization • Foreign investment firm

28. Answer • The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a __________. • Quasi-governmental organization • Structure organization • Private organization • Foreign investment firm

29. Question 3 • Agency budgets are approved and provided by __________. • The president • The Supreme Court • Private industry • Congress

30. Answer • Agency budgets are approved and provided by __________. • The president • The Supreme Court • Private industry • Congress

31. Question 4 • By introducing business principles into the executive branch, executives have attempted to __________ government. • Realign • Reapportion • Reinvent • Rehabilitate

32. Answer • By introducing business principles into the executive branch, executives have attempted to __________ government. • Realign • Reapportion • Reinvent • Rehabilitate

33. Question 5 • What advantages could be gained by privatizing governmental functions?