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THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY

THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY. Examining the “ Fourth Branch ”. bureaucracy. literally means “ rule by desks ” government by clerks. How Much Is Too Much?. Polls: People want small government Polls: People support almost all government programs. Size Organization

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THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY

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  1. THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY Examining the “Fourth Branch”

  2. bureaucracy • literally means “rule by desks” • government by clerks

  3. How Much Is Too Much? • Polls: People want small government • Polls: People support almost all government programs. • Size • Organization • Staffing of the federal bureaucracy

  4. bureaucracy Definition:an administrative system, especially in a government, that divides work into specific categories carried out by special departments of nonelected officials

  5. Models of Bureaucracy • Weberian Model: Max Weber, Top-Down leadership, individual advancement based upon merit rather than political connections. • Acquisitive Model: Expansion of bureaucrats, avoid reductions, maximize the size of their budgets and staff: Government contracts: national defense, public housing, agricultural subsidies,etc.

  6. Models of Bureaucracy 3. Monopolistic Model: Little reason to adopt cost-saving measures, chronic inefficiency, no competition --Solution: Privatize public sector --Public vs. Private school --Public Utilities vs. Private owned --Public bathrooms vs. Private bath- rooms

  7. Characteristics of a Bureaucracy • administration of government through departments • consists of unelected often highly trained professionals • task specialization • hierarchical authority

  8. Public Perceptionsof Bureaucracies • impersonal • inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures • may stifle effectiveness and innovation • “red tape”

  9. The Federal Bureaucracy What is the federal bureaucracy?

  10. The Federal Bureaucracy is: • 4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants” • President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments) • 15 cabinet level departments • 200+ independent agencies with 2,000+ bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. • Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration

  11. The Federal Bureaucracy What does the federal bureaucracy do?

  12. Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy Implementation- carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President Administration- routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries) Regulation- issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards) Source:http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp

  13. Independent Regulatory Agencies • ICC- Interstate Commerce Commission 1887 (Munn v Illinois) ************** --Gov’t control of Business and trade between states. New tax source. Rates, Profits, and Rules. Abolished 1995 • FCC-Federal Communication Commission • Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  14. Purpose of Independent Regulatory Agencies • Independent of: 3 Branches of Gov’t • Their rules have the Force of Law. • They can enforce their own rules. • They decide disputes against themselves. FTC, IRS, SEC, FCC, NLRB, NRC, FRS Internal Revenue Service is an Independent Regulatory Agency***************

  15. Deregulation and Reregulation**************************** • Ronald Reagan: (1981-1989) Less Government. Less Regulation • George H. Bush: (1988-1992) Reregulation. Americans with Disabilites Act, Civil Rights Act of 1991, Cable Reregulation Act • Bill Clinton: Extended EPA regulations, Deregulated Banking, Telecommunications, and eliminated the ICC

  16. Bureaucracies Compared • Financial Assistance to States: Dept. of Education, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Publicly owned telephone companies, railroads, airlines. --administrative agencies: EPA, NRC, SEC which regulate private companies 2. RESULTS: Input Costs for Business (Taxes and Regulations). EEOC, OSHA, SSA

  17. The Federal Bureaucracy How is the federal bureaucracy organized?

  18. The Federal Bureaucracy Consists of • Cabinet Departments • Independent Executive Agencies • Independent Regulatory Commissions • Government Corporations

  19. Government Corporations • Read pg. 436. Government Profits • TVA • FDIC • NRPC • U.S. Post Office

  20. Federal Bureaucracy Federal Bureaucracy President Congress Executive Office of the President (Ex: OMB, NSC) Independent Regulatory Commissions (Ex: FCC, SEC) Independent Executive Agencies (Ex: CIA, NASA) Cabinet Departments (Ex: State, Defense) Government Corporations (Ex: Amtrack, Postal Service)

  21. Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

  22. The Cabinet Departments • The 15 cabinet departments headed by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president and approved by the Senate • Each department “expert” in specific policy area • Each department has its own budget • Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is newest department

  23. Department of Homeland Security Executive Secretary Commandant of Coast Guard (1) Legislative Affairs Secretary ---------------------------------- Deputy Secretary Inspector General Public Affairs General Counsel State and Local Coordination Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Citizenship & Immigration Service Ombudsman (1) Director, Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (1) Special Assistant to the Secretary (private sector) Director of the Secret Service (1) Small & Disadvantaged Business Privacy Officer National Capital Region Coordination Chief of Staff International Affairs Shared Services Counter Narcotics Under Secretary Management Under Secretary Science and Technology Under Secretary Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Under Secretary Border & Transportation Security Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and Response Note (1): Effective March 1st, 2003

  24. Independent Executive Agencies • Established by Congress with separate status outside the executive branch • Given a specific mandate and generally perform a service function, not a regulatory one. • Some examples include: Social Security Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.

  25. Independent Regulatory Commissions • IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the Federal Communications Commission (public air waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply) • IRCs operate independently from Congress and the President • Once appointed and seated, members cannot be removed without cause

  26. Government Corporations • Government owned businesses created by Congress • May or may not be profitable, but serve a public need • Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

  27. Who works for the federal government?

  28. Who are the “Bureaucrats?” • 97% are career government employees • Only 10% live in the D.C. area • 30% work for the D.O.D. • Less than 15% work for social welfare agencies • Most are white collar workers: secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers • Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congress

  29. Staffing the Bureaucracy Categories of Bureaucrats: • 1. Appointed: patronage, spoils system, work experience, intelligence, political affiliations • Aristocracy of Federal Government: • Appointed and not Confirmed • Less than 1/10 of 1% of Federal Employees are fired for incompetence. Why? “Red Tape” and Civil Rights

  30. History of Civil Service System • “To the Victor Belong the Spoils”: Andrew Jackson 1828: Spoils System • Civil Service Reform Act 1883: Pendleton Act created Civil Service Commission 1976 & 1980 Courts strengthen rights of employees from termination due to politics • 1978 Civil Service Reform Act: Office of Personnel Management to hire & Merit Systems Protection Board to fire.

  31. Bureaucracy and Campaigns • Why did FDR win 4 elections? Relate New Deal programs with his campaigns. • Conservatives pass the Hatch Act?****** • Banned federal employees from campaigning • Supreme Court overturns Act 1972

  32. Where do Federal Employees Work? Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

  33. What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do? Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

  34. Who supervises the federal bureaucracy?

  35. The President Supervises the Bureaucracy The President can: • appoint & remove agency heads • reorganize the bureaucracy • issue executive orders • reduce an agency's budget President Obama

  36. Congress Oversees the Bureaucracy Congress can: • create or abolish agencies & departments • cut or reduce funding • investigate agency activities • hold committee hearings • pass legislation that alters an agency's functions • influence or even fail to confirm presidential appointments Former FEMA Chief Michael Brown testifies before House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina

  37. Reforming Bureaucracy • Sunshine Laws before 9/11 --open public meetings in all levels of gov’t a. Information Disclosure: Consumer protection of homes, borrowing money FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT Post 9/11: Information not so public if deemed “national security”

  38. Reforming Bureaucracy 2. Sunset Laws: Government programs on a “decline schedule” such as: Tax cuts 3. Privatization: Vouchers for education, prisons, water, electricity, paramilitary organizations (Blackwater USA) 4. Incentives: Performance based bonuses for federal employees (Sales or Commission)

  39. Reforming Bureaucracy 5. Helping out “Whistleblowers” –Truth-tellers: Gross Gov’t inefficiency or illegal action. --1989: Whistleblower protection act. --Why is there a negative connation attached to telling the truth? --Office of Special Counsel (Kenneth Star) Monica Lewinski, Paula Jones, Jennifer Flowers, Kathleen Willey, Eileen Wellstone, Carolyn Moffet, Elizabeth Ward, Paula Corbin, Sandra James, Christy Zercher

  40. Federal Courts Check the Bureaucracy Federal courts can: • through judicial review rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted within the law and the U.S. Constitution • provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action Supreme Court of the United States

  41. The Bureaucracy of Pizza

  42. Thinking Critically • Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?” • Some critics believe that the real power in the federal government lies with the federal bureaucracy. To what extent do you believe this is true?

  43. Title: The Damages of the Bureaucracy Artist: unknown, La Presna, Panama Date: May, 2006 Source:http://www.politicalcartoons.com

  44. Title: Federal Employees Self Esteem Class Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknown Source: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

  45. Title: Another Layer of Bureaucracy Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant Date: February, 2006 Source: : http://www.politicalcartoons.com

  46. Title: FEMA’s Follies Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver Post Date: April, 2006 Source:http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp

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