THE BUREAUCRACYTHE BUREAUCRACY

The Rule Making Institutions The Rule Making Institutions

Which carry out the lawsWhich carry out the laws

What is a bureaucracy?What is a bureaucracy?

A set of complex hierarchical departments, agencies, commissions, and their staffs that existto help the president carry out the mandated charge to enforce the laws of the nation.

Is the bureaucracy too big?Is the bureaucracy too big?

Common complaint by many Americans Common complaint by many Americans now is that government is too bignow is that government is too big

This idea is reinforced by many This idea is reinforced by many politicians that try to run against politicians that try to run against Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

Many see the bureaucracy as just Many see the bureaucracy as just another name for “red tape”another name for “red tape”

Bureaucracy was not always so largeBureaucracy was not always so large

Development of BureaucracyDevelopment of Bureaucracy

Washington’s bureaucracy had three depts. Washington’s bureaucracy had three depts. (State, War, Treasury)(State, War, Treasury)

Increased demands led to increases in sizeIncreased demands led to increases in size Spoils System to Merit SystemSpoils System to Merit System

– Creation of the civil service systemCreation of the civil service system Regulating the economyRegulating the economy

– Creation of IRCsCreation of IRCs New Deal New Deal World War II and laterWorld War II and later

Reasons for GrowthReasons for Growth Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

– our society is more complexour society is more complex Business RegulationBusiness Regulation

– gov’t intervention into the market came to be gov’t intervention into the market came to be accepted as necessaryaccepted as necessary

– protects markets, protects consumers, protects markets, protects consumers, workers, etc.workers, etc.

– more problems have led to more gov’tmore problems have led to more gov’t

Reasons for Growth (con’t)Reasons for Growth (con’t)

Social WelfareSocial Welfare– attitudes about the role of gov’t has attitudes about the role of gov’t has

changed here as well.changed here as well.– belief that gov’t should provide support to belief that gov’t should provide support to

certain individualscertain individuals Belief in ProgressBelief in Progress

– Need gov’t to undertake large projects Need gov’t to undertake large projects (e.g., space race, War on Poverty, etc.)(e.g., space race, War on Poverty, etc.)

Ambitious AdministratorsAmbitious Administrators

Government OrganizationGovernment Organization

Cabinet DepartmentsCabinet Departments– Biggest units (15) of executive branch covering Biggest units (15) of executive branch covering

broad areas of responsibility (e.g, DOD, Interior)broad areas of responsibility (e.g, DOD, Interior) Government CorporationsGovernment Corporations Independent AgenciesIndependent Agencies

– Not part of any cabinet agency, stand alone Not part of any cabinet agency, stand alone (e.g., CIA, NASA, EPA)(e.g., CIA, NASA, EPA)

Regulatory Commissions Regulatory Commissions – outside the direct control of the White House outside the direct control of the White House

(FCC, FTC)(FCC, FTC)– Typically deal w/ aspects of economyTypically deal w/ aspects of economy

Civil Civil ServiceServiceCivil Civil ServiceService

National bureaucracy has about 2.3 National bureaucracy has about 2.3 million employees (civilian and defense)million employees (civilian and defense)

Small number of these are located in D.C. Small number of these are located in D.C. (11%)(11%)

Size of federal bur. has been stable and Size of federal bur. has been stable and shrinking slightly. Increases in state/localshrinking slightly. Increases in state/local

Civil Servants: Who are Civil Servants: Who are they?/Problemsthey?/ProblemsCivil Servants: Who are Civil Servants: Who are they?/Problemsthey?/Problems

Most positions are merit basedMost positions are merit based Some are notSome are not

– Appointed positionsAppointed positions– Low-level patronageLow-level patronage

Well-trained individuals; high level of Well-trained individuals; high level of educationeducation

Somewhat diverse but issues at higher Somewhat diverse but issues at higher levelslevels

Problems:Problems: - Political Appointees average less than 2 years- Political Appointees average less than 2 years - Career civil servants may stymie legislation if they - Career civil servants may stymie legislation if they disagree with the presidentdisagree with the president - difficult to find impetus to change- difficult to find impetus to change - very difficult to fire career civil servants: - very difficult to fire career civil servants: - Pride/Reform?- Pride/Reform?

Hatch Act and BeyondHatch Act and Beyond

Hatch Act Hatch Act of 1939– law enacted to prohibit civil servants from law enacted to prohibit civil servants from

taking activist roles in partisan campaignstaking activist roles in partisan campaigns– Was this a violation of First Amendment Was this a violation of First Amendment

freedoms?freedoms? Federal Employees Political Activities Act (1993)Federal Employees Political Activities Act (1993)

– Liberalization of HatchLiberalization of Hatch– can now run for nonpartisan office; make can now run for nonpartisan office; make

contributionscontributions

BureaucraticBureaucratic PolicymakingBureaucraticBureaucratic Policymaking

Major function of agencies is Major function of agencies is rulemaking Congress delegates powerCongress delegates power

– Congress Congress creates agencies that establish an agency mandate

– This mandate gives the agency authority This mandate gives the agency authority to make certain policy decisionsto make certain policy decisions

Implementation– process by which a law or policy is put process by which a law or policy is put

into operationinto operation Iron Triangles and Issue Networks

– Interest GroupsInterest Groups– Congressional SubcommitteesCongressional Subcommittees– Bureaucratic agenciesBureaucratic agencies

Bureaucratic Bureaucratic AccountabilityAccountabilityBureaucratic Bureaucratic AccountabilityAccountability

Accountability is the ability to hold officials responsible for their actions

Who should bureaucrats be responsible to?

Bureaucratic officials are not elected by the public

Can be held accountable by the president, Congress and the Courts

Presidential ControlPresidential Control

Do presidents have sufficient control?Do presidents have sufficient control? President appoints over 3000 peoplePresident appoints over 3000 people ReorganizationReorganization Executive OrdersExecutive Orders Presidents have also centralized powerPresidents have also centralized power

– All major regulations now go through All major regulations now go through OMB for reviewOMB for review

Agencies are not totally responsiveAgencies are not totally responsive

Problems: - Political Appointees average less than 2 years- Political Appointees average less than 2 years - Career civil servants may stymie legislation if they - Career civil servants may stymie legislation if they disagree with the presidentdisagree with the president - difficult to find impetus to change- difficult to find impetus to change - very difficult to fire career civil servants: - very difficult to fire career civil servants: - Pride/Reform?- Pride/Reform?

Congressional Control Congressional Control Create or abolish agencies or functionsCreate or abolish agencies or functions Confirm appointeesConfirm appointees Hearings/investigationsHearings/investigations Budget controlsBudget controls New LawsNew Laws Legislative vetoLegislative veto