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Chapter 13

Chapter 13. THE Bureaucracy. The US Bureaucracy. Definition- collection of appointed and mostly non-appointed officials that carry out laws that are passed. Political authority over the bureaucracy is shared by the president and congress.

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Chapter 13

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  1. Chapter 13 THE Bureaucracy

  2. The US Bureaucracy • Definition- collection of appointed and mostly non-appointed officials that carry out laws that are passed. • Political authority over the bureaucracy is shared by the president and congress. • Federal agencies share functions with state and local agencies.

  3. The growth of the bureaucracy • The Supreme Court ruled that only the president has the power to remove administrators in the bureaucracy. • Congress funds and investigates the agencies, and shapes the laws they administer (oversight).

  4. Appointment of officials • Officials affect how laws are interpreted, • They set the tone for the party and the current administration. • Patronage used to play a HUGE part in the 19th and early 20th century.

  5. Spoils System • Andrew Jackson abused hids power of patronage. • 1883 Pendleton Act- created the civil service. Anyone can apply for a job in the bureaucracy. Jobs given based on merit.

  6. Size of the bureaucracy • Two events have caused an explosive growth in the bureaucracy: • 1) The great Depression • 2) World War II

  7. Government Activism • These two events caused: • 1) S Court to uphold laws granting administrative discretion to agencies. • 2) Heavier income taxes to support a larger bureaucracy. • 3) public support of military preparedness and various social programs.

  8. Federal Bureaucracy Today • Modest increase in government employees. • Large increase in number of indirect employees- those contracted through private contractors, local and state governments.

  9. Federal Bureaucracy Today • Discretionary authority- the ability to choose courses of action and to make policies not set out by law. • Congress has allowed agencies to have a lot of discretionary authority in recent years.

  10. Getting Employed • Recruitment & retention: • The competitive service: bureaucrats compete for jobs through OPM. • 1) appointment by merit based on written exam. • 2) Merit Systems Protection Board- protects current employees. • 3) OPM is non-partisan

  11. Firing a Bureaucrat • Most cannot be fired easily. • Most agencies are dominated by lifetime bureaucrats who have worked for no other agency. • Assures continuity and expertise. • But can give subordinates power over new bosses.

  12. Constraints on government agencies • Hiring, firing, and other procedures are established by law, not the market. • Constraints: • Administrative Procedures Act, Freedom of Information Act, Nat’l Environmental Policy Act, Open Meeting Law

  13. Effects of Constraints • Government moves slowly. • Government acts inconsistently. • Reluctant decision making by employees. • Red tape.

  14. Agency Allies • Iron Triangle- agency works with interest groups and congressional committees. • Not as common today due to the number of competing interest groups. • Issue networks- groups that regularly debate government policy on specific issues. Recruited by presidents.

  15. Congressional Oversight • Congress creates agencies and authorizes their programs. • Appropriations allows the agency to spend money on the programs.

  16. Appropriations Committee • Most powerful of all committees. • Most expenditure recommendations are approved by the House. • Tends to be a lower amount than the agency requested. • Can “mark-up” agencies budget.

  17. Legislative Veto • A requirement that an executive decision must lie before Congress before it takes effect. • Declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court in INS v Chadha (1983)

  18. Oversight • Congress can investigate agencies. • 1) power inferred from power to legislate. • 2) can bring members of an agency in to question their decisions and their use of administrative discretion.

  19. 5 Major Complaints of the Bureaucracy • 1) red tape- Rules • 2)Conflict- agencies work at cross-purposes • 3) Duplication- two or more agencies doing the same thing. • 4) Imperialism- agencies growing too big • 5) Waste- spending more than is necessary

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