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The Bureaucracy

Explore the complex nature of the federal bureaucracy, its hierarchical structure, job specialization, and formalized rules. Learn about the Cabinet, staff agencies, and independent agencies.

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The Bureaucracy

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  1. The Bureaucracy • Bureaucracy: • a body of administrative offices working to implement policy

  2. Bureaucracy Line at the DMV https://www.fema.gov/ Gettin’ things done, yeah!

  3. Bureaucracy • Large, complex organization of appointed, not elected, officials. • “bureau” – French for small desks, referring to the king’s traveling business men who set up small desks in town squares • Bureaucracy = “government of small desks”

  4. Major Elements of the Federal Bureaucracy The federal bureaucracy is all of the agencies, people, and procedures through which the Federal Government operates. The President is the chief administrator of the Federal Government. In order to enact and enforce policy, Congress and the President have created an administration—the government’s many administrators and agencies. The chief organizational feature of the federal bureaucracy is its division into areas of specialization. 2 3 4 5 Chapter 15, Section 1

  5. What Is a Bureaucracy? • Hierarchical authority. Bureaucracies are based on a pyramid structure with a chain of command running from top to bottom. • Job specialization. Each bureaucrat, or person who works for the organization, has certain defined duties and responsibilities. • Formalized rules. The bureaucracy does its work according to a set of established regulations and procedures. Three features distinguish bureaucracies: 2 3 4 5 Chapter 15, Section 1

  6. The Federal Bureaucracy:The Cabinet

  7. The Cabinet is an informal advisory body brought together by the President to serve his needs. By tradition, the heads of the executive departments form the Cabinet. The President appoints the head of each of the executive departments, which are then subject to Senate approval. Cabinet members serve as both head of their respective departments and as advisors to the President. The Cabinet Chapter 15, Section 3

  8. The Name Game The name department is reserved for agencies of the Cabinet rank. Outside of department, there is little standardization of names throughout the agencies. Common titles include agency, administration, commission, corporation, and authority. 2 3 4 5 Chapter 15, Section 1

  9. Staff Agencies Staff agencies serve in a support capacity. They aid the chief executive and other administrators by offering advice and other assistance in the management of the organization. Line Agencies Line agencies perform tasks for which the organization exists. Congress and the President give the line agencies goals to accomplish, and staff agencies help the line agencies accomplish them. Staff and Line Agencies

  10. Executive Departments The executive departments, often called the Cabinet departments, are the traditional units of federal administration. Each department is headed by a secretary, except for the Department of Justice, whose work is directed by the attorney general. Each department is made up of a number of subunits, both staff and line. Today, the executive departments vary a great deal in terms of visibility, size, and importance. Chapter 15, Section 3

  11. Loretta Lynch Confirmation

  12. Comparing and Contrasting the Cabinet & White House Staff White House Staff Cabinet * Chosen by the president. No confirmation needed *Work closely with the President on a day to day basis. *advisors to the President On broad policy issues *Are directly responsible for representing the views of the President. *Policy formation * Nominated by the Pres. but must be confirmed by the Senate. *Advisors on narrow policy issues. *Typically not involved in day-to-day communication with the President. *Are the Administrative heads of their own dept. which might affect their priorities. *Policy Implementation * selection by the president. * work on policy *Serve as advisors

  13. Independent Agency: • Separate from Cabinet • 100+ • Heads appointed by President

  14. Why Independent Agencies? The independent agencies are created by Congress and located outside the executive departments. • Independent agencies have been formed for numerous reasons, including: * being assigned a task or function that does not fit well within the existing departmental structure; * protecting the agency’s purposes from the influence of both partisan and pressure politics; 1 2 3 5 Chapter 15, Section 4

  15. Independent Agencies Serve: The Executive Branch The public interest Congressional Interest

  16. Regulatory Commissions: • Independent of all 3 branches • Appointed by President, BUT…answer to congress • Make rules for large industries and businesses…in line with agency guidelines

  17. Independent Regulatory Commissions • The independent regulatory commissions stand out among the independent agencies because they are largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control. • Term length of members and staggering number of member appointments keep these commissions from falling under control of one party. • The regulatory commissions are quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial,meaning that Congress has given them certain legislative-like and judicial-like powers. 1 2 3 5 Chapter 15, Section 4

  18. The Government Corporations • Government corporations are also within the executive branch and subject to the President’s direction and control. • Government corporations were established by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities. • There are now over 50 government corporations, including the U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. 1 2 3 5 Chapter 15, Section 4

  19. The Civil Service • How did the civil service develop? • What are the characteristics of the current civil service? • What restrictions are placed on the political activity of members of the civil service? 1 2 3 4 Chapter 15, Section 1

  20. Development of the Civil Service The civil service is that group of public employees who perform the administrative work of government, excluding the armed forces. 1 2 3 4 Chapter 15, Section 5

  21. “Controlling” the Bureaucracy • Patronage - Rewarding supporters with jobs • “Spoils system” – created by Andrew Jackson, each President turned over the bureaucracy • Pendleton Act (1883) - Created in response to criticism of patronage • more jobs will be selected based on merit • Hatch Act (1939) – agency employees can’t participate in political activities (elections, campaigns, fund raisers, etc.) • Softened in recent decades, 1st Amendment issues

  22. The Civil Service Today • The Office of Personnel Management is the central clearinghouse in the federal recruiting, examining, and hiring process. • The Merit Systems Protection Board enforces the merit principle in the federal bureaucracy. • Congress sets the pay and other job conditions for everyone who works for the Federal Government, except for postal employees. 1 2 3 4 Chapter 15, Section 5

  23. Political Activities • Several laws and a number of OPM regulations place restrictions on the political activities of federal civil servants: • The Hatch Act of 1939 allows federal workers to vote in elections, but forbids them from taking part in partisan political activities. • The Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993 relaxes many of the restrictions of the Hatch Act. It still forbids federal workers from: • (1) running in partisan elections; • (2) engaging in party work on government property or while on the job; • (3) collecting political contributions from subordinates or the general public; or • (4) using a government position to influence an election. 1 2 3 4 Chapter 15, Section 5

  24. Max WeberThe Theory of Social & Economic Organization 1947 • Famous early 20th century economist, German • Bureaucracy – well organized, complex machine that is a “rational” way for society to organize its business

  25. Weber Characteristics • Hierarchical authority structure – chain of command • Task specialization – individuals have unique jobs, division of labor • Extensive rules – clear policies for the organization to follow • Clear goals – clearly defined mission

  26. Weber • Merit principle – hiring and promotion based on qualities, no jobs for favors • Replaced the “Spoils System” • Impersonality – performance judged on productivity • Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

  27. Modern Bureaucracy • 1932-1945 – New Deal, WWII, increase in programs and gov’t work • 1950’s – 1970’s – 90% of all federal employees were chosen on merit • Salaries also chosen on merit

  28. Who are bureaucrats? • 1 out of 100 Americans work for government bureaucracy • Examples • US Postal Service • Amtrak • Corporation for Public Broadcasting • Interstate Commerce Commission • Federal Trade Commisson • Securities and Exchange Commission • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  29. Bureaucrat: • a civil servant vs

  30. What do bureaucrats do? • Discretionary action – have the power to execute laws and policies passed down by the president or congress. • Implementation – develop procedures and rules for reaching the goal of a new policy • Regulation – check private business activity • Munn v. Illinois (1877) – SC upheld that government had the right to regulate business

  31. Accountability • Bureaucracy is constrained and controlled by the US government • Congress • appropriates money, authorizes the spending of money, oversees agency activity • President • Job appointments, executive orders, budget control, reorganize agencies

  32. Iron Triangles CONGRESS INTEREST GROUPS BUREAUCRACY Iron Triangle - three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests

  33. How it works? • Everyone in the triangle has a similar interest • Legislatorsget funding from interest groups and make laws with the help of the bureaucracy • Interest groups provide valued information to bureaucrats and money to legislators • Bureau chiefs implement legislator policy and interest group goals.

  34. Iron Triangles

  35. Why are they “iron”? • Strong – bond can’t be broken by President or Congress • Referred to as “sub governments,” all the real decisions are made among these 3 groups • Might maintain interests that might not be publicly popular… Think IRS…

  36. Issue Networks • Of course more complicated connections exists • Iron triangle too simple – there are always IGs from opposite sides of an issue who compete for influence over policy. Industry vs. Environmentalists • Issue Network – complex group (includes media) that debates an issue and slows policy-making. • Policy-making is not as smooth with competing demands from Igs. • President can appoint an agency head who steers policy, but can never smoothly control policy.

  37. Common Criticisms of Bureaucracy • “Red tape” – maze of gov rules, regulations, and paperwork that makes gov overwhelming to citizens • Conflict – agencies that often work toward opposite goals • Duplication – agencies appear to do the same thing • Waste – spending more than necessary • Lack of accountability – difficulty in firing an incompetent bureaucrat Critical Thinking How is the bureaucracy a check on Presidential power? FEMA and Katrina FEMA and Sandy

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