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THE BUREAUCRACY

THE BUREAUCRACY. Bureaucracies are everywhere . . . . What is a Bureaucracy?. Bureaucracy is based on the principles of hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formal rules A bureaucracy is a way of organizing people to do work. Major Elements.

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THE BUREAUCRACY

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  1. THE BUREAUCRACY

  2. Bureaucracies are everywhere . . .

  3. What is a Bureaucracy? • Bureaucracy is based on the principles of hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formal rules • A bureaucracy is a way of organizing people to do work

  4. Major Elements • Nearly all of the bureaucracy of the federal Government resides in the Executive Branch of government • The Constitution gives little guidance about the structure of the federal bureaucracy

  5. Major Elements • The bureaucracy is made up of three major groups of administrative agencies: the Executive Office of the President; the 15 Cabinet Departments; and the Independent Agencies

  6. The Name Game • The term department is reserved for agencies of cabinet rank • The term agency is used to refer to any governmental body or, more particularly, to a major unit headed by a single administrator of near-cabinet status. The term administration is used in a similar way

  7. The Name Game • The term commission is given to agencies charged with the regulation of business activities. Commissions are headed by varying numbers of top-ranking officers, or commissioners. • The terms corporation and authority are used for agencies that have a board and a manager and that conduct business-like activities.

  8. The Bureaucrats • Bureaucratic Agencies • Each agency is created by Congress- which sets its budget and writes the policies it administers. • Most are responsible to the President as hinted to in the Constitution. • Key problem– How to manage and control? B. Some Bureaucratic Myths • Americans dislike bureaucrats. • Bureaucracies are growing bigger each year. • Most federal bureaucrats work in Washington, D.C. • Bureaucracies are ineffective, inefficient and always mired in red tape.

  9. The Bureaucrats • The Realities • Possess crucial info and expertise to make them partners in forming policy with Congress and President. • Perform vital services provided by the fed. Govt. • Despite complaints, majority of tasks carried out by governments at all levels are noncontroversial. • Perform variety of routine tasks in an expectable manner. • Due to expertise they have some discretion when carrying out policy decisions.

  10. The Bureaucrats • Who They Are and How They Got There • Most demographically representative part of government. • Diversity of jobs mirrors the private sector. Figure 15.2

  11. The Roots and Development of the Federal Bureaucracy • In 1789, George Washington headed a federal bureaucracy of three departments: • State, War, and Treasury. • The government grew as needs arose. In general, the government grew most during national crises and times of war. • The Civil War • National Efforts to Regulate the Economy

  12. The Civil War • The Civil War (1861-65) permanently changed the nature of the federal bureaucracy. • Thousands of employees were added in order to mount the war effort. • After the Civil War, demands on the government continued to grow. The government needed to pay pensions to veterans and the injured from the war. • Legal issues became pressing so the Justice Department was created.

  13. The New Deal and WWII • FDR faced high unemployment and weak financial markets during the Great Depression. • In order to face the economic crisis, FDR created large numbers of federal agencies and many federal programs (AAA, NIRA, CCC). • WWII (like the Civil War and WWI) also caused the national government to grow.

  14. The Modern Bureaucracy • Governments exist for the public good not for profit. • Government leaders are driven by reelection (and thus accountability) goals while businesspeople are out to increase their share prices on Wall Street. Businesses get money from customers, government gets it from taxpayers. • To whom bureaucrats are responsible: to the president? To Congress? to the people?

  15. How Bureaucracies Are Organized A. The Cabinet Departments • 15 Cabinet departments headed by a secretary except the Department of Justice which is headed by the Attorney General. • Appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate. Each has its own budget, staff and policy areas • Bureaus in each department is where business gets done. Department of Homeland Security

  16. How Bureaucracies Are Organized B. The Regulatory Agencies • Independent Regulatory Agency: Responsible for some sector of the economy making rules and judging disputes to protect the public interest. • Headed by a commission of 5-10 people– cannot be fired by the President. • Rule making is an important function watched by interest groups and citizens alike. About 150 IRAs.

  17. How Bureaucracies Are Organized C. The Government Corporations • Business like – provide services like private companies and typically charge for their services. a. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority 2. Typically cheaper rates than private sector because they are not that profitable.

  18. How Bureaucracies Are Organized • D. Independent Executive Agencies • 1. The agencies that don’t fit in anywhere else BUT are specialized agencies. Usually perform a service function. • a. CIA,GSA, EPA and NASA • 2. Administrators are presidential appointments.

  19. How Bureaucracies Are Organized E. Independent Regulatory Commissions • IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the National Labor Relations Board or Securities and Exchange Commission. • 10 independent commissions are largely not under President’s control. • Must be made up from both parties and members cannot be removed for political reasons.

  20. Making Agencies Accountable Is the bureaucracy accountable and if so to whom? Congress has the authority to: pass legislation that alters an agency's functions abolish existing programs investigate bureaucratic activities influence presidential appointments write legislation to limit bureaucratic discretion The judiciary has the power to: rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted within the law rule on constitutionality force respect for the rights of individuals through hearings The president has the authority to: appoint and remove agency heads reorganize the bureaucracy make changes in budget proposals ignore initiatives from the bureaucracy issue executive orders reduce an agency's budget

  21. Understanding Bureaucracies Figure 15.5

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