Chapter 13 THE BUREAUCRACY

Learning Objectives 1) Describe the size & functions of the U.S. bureaucracy. 2) Discuss the structure & basic components of the federal bureaucracy. 3) Indicate when the federal civil service was established & explain how bureaucrats get their jobs.

Learning Objectives 4) Explain how regulatory agencies make rules & how “iron triangles” affect policymaking in government. 5) Identify some of the ways in which the government has attempted to curb waste & improve efficiency in the bureaucracy.

Bureaucrats & the Bureaucracy Bureaucrat: –An individual who works in a bureaucracy. Term refers to a government employee Bureaucracy: –A large, complex, hierarchically structured administrative organization that carries out specific functions.

The Nature & Size of the Bureaucracy The Growth of Bureaucracy –In 1789 the government had three Departments & Few employees –Since then government has grown immensely, much growth has been at state & local level

Government Employment at Federal, State, & Local Levels Figure 13-1 pg. 300

The Nature & Size of the Bureaucracy The Costs of Maintaining the Government: –In 1929 maintaining all levels of government accounted for 11% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). –Today, maintaining all levels of government exceeds 40%

Where Does All the Money Go? Pg. 301

The Organization of the Federal Government Figure 13-2 pg. 302

How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized Executive Branch of federal government includes four major types of structures: –Executive Departments –Independent Executive Agencies –Independent Regulatory Agencies –Government Corporations

How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized Executive (Cabinet) Departments: –Major administrative organizations w/in the federal executive bureaucracy. –Each has its own budget, staff, & policy areas: Each headed by a secretary (15 departments) –Exception being DOJ (Attorney General) Has a responsibility for a major function of the federal government –i.e.- Defense, Agriculture, Justice, Education etc.

Executive Departments Table 13-1 pg. 302

Executive Department Table 13-1 pg. 303

The Organization of the Department of Agriculture Figure 13-3 pg. 306

How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized Independent Agencies: –Bureaucratic agencies similar to cabinet departments; –Have narrower area of responsibility, –Headed by presidential appointee who is not a cabinet member i.e. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)

Independent Executive Agencies Agencies kept independent due to sensitive nature of their functions &/or to protect them from Partisan Politics: –Political actions or decisions that benefit a particular party. i.e. Civil Rights Commission (1957), Central Intelligence Agency (1947), General Services Administration (1949)-GSA, monitors federal government spending.

Selected Independent Executive Agencies Table 13-2 pg. 308

Independent Regulatory Agencies Regulatory Agencies: –Administrative units; responsible for creating & implementing rules that regulate private activity –Have the responsibility of monitoring & regulating ongoing economic activities. i.e.- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –Protect the public interest –Headed by a commission of 5-10 people

Selected Independent Regulatory Agencies Table 13-3 pg. 309

Government Corporation Government Corporations: –Business like- provide services like private companies and typically charge for their services; –Differ in that they receive federal funding to help defray expenses. –Directors are appointed by the president w/ Senate approval. i.e.- Post Office, Amtrak

Selected Government Corporations Table 13-4 pg. 309

How Bureaucrats Get Their Jobs Civil Service: –Nonmilitary government employment. –Approach to managing the bureaucracy; –People are appointed to government positions on the basis of either competitive examinations –Or special qualifications (professional training) Pendleton Civil Service Act

Regulatory Agencies: Are they the 4 th Branch of Government? Legislative Rule: –An administrative agency rule that carries the same weight as a statute enacted by a legislature. Since 19 th century regulatory agencies have been around however, had sharp incline during 1960s & 1970s. Regulatory agencies in charge of policy implementation.

Agency Creation Enabling Legislation: –A law enacted by a legislature to establish an administrative agency. –Enabling legislation normally specifies the name, purpose, composition, & powers of the agency being created.

Agency Creation Adjudicate: –To render a judicial decision. Regarding administrative law –Process in which administrative law judge hears & decides issues Issues arising when an agency charges a person or firm w/ violating a law or regulation enforced by the agency.

Regulatory Agencies Rulemaking: –The process undertaken by an administrative agency when formally proposing, evaluating, & adopting a new regulation. Conferred on it (the agency) by Congress in the agency’s enabling legislation

Policymaking Neutral Competency: –The application of technical skills to jobs without regard to political issues. Employees are hired & retained on basis of their expertise Operates by objective standards rather than partisan ones.

Iron Triangles A three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, & interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests. –i.e. Agriculture pg. 313

Example of Iron Triangle Figure 13-4 pg. 313

Issue Networks Groups of individuals or organizations consisting of: –Legislators, & Legislative staff members, Interest groups leaders, Bureaucrats, Media, Scholars, & Other Experts that support particular policy positions on a given issue.

Issue Network: The Environment Figure 13-4 pg. 312

Curbing Waste & Improving Efficiency Examples of Waste: –$11 million, CIA, Pentagon, & Psychics –$20 million, Prison Inmates, SS supplemental income program –$10 million, Dept. Energy, Employees & Weight –$30 million, non existent slavery tax credits –$1.1 million public housing tenants, & self- esteem

Improving Efficiency Whistleblower: –Someone who “blows the whistle” (reports to authorities) –On gross governmental Inefficiency, Illegal action, or Other Wrongdoing. Reforms in place to protect whistleblowers however, more effective protection needed.

Improving Efficiency Results-oriented goals for agency to streamline its performance Performance-based budgeting –Utilizing “grades” for agency, better the grade more $ Pay-for-performance

Alternative for Reforming Bureaucracy Privatization: –The transfer of the task of providing services traditionally provided by government to the private sector.

Bush Administration Executive Order establishes Regulatory Policy Office (RPO) w/in each agency: –Headed by a political appointee w/ authority to review & approve agency guidelines. Critics of Bush Administration viewed order as simply an attempt to politicize the bureaucracy

Government in the Sunshine Freedom of Information Act (1966) –Americans pay for gov., therefore they own it & have a right to know what is going on –Expanded during Clinton due to Internet –Restricted immensely under Bush due to 9/11 “Sunshine Laws” (1970)