The Bureaucracy Unit #12

Bureaucracies Name given to an organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions Can be both public and private bureaucracies

What do Bureaucrats Do? Implement policies established by congressional acts or presidential decisions Some policies very strict, bureaucrats have no discretion More commonly, legislation only determines general guidelines, bureaucrats have leeway to develop specific policies and programs

Regulations Rule that allows the government to exercise control over individuals and corporations by restricting certain behaviors BP oil spill highlighted the government agency known as the Minerals Management Service Issues all regulations for drilling such as tools used, depth limits, number of lifeboats, etc

Red Tape Bureaucracy often criticized for moving slowly The excessive or unnecessarily complex regulations imposed by bureaucrats is known as red tape

Size of the Bureaucracy Consists of approximately 2.8 million people 1 out of 100 Americans work for Gov bureaucracy Not included in that number is the many other people who work as subcontractors or consultants for the government See page 490

Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Cabinet departments Independent executive agencies Independent regulatory agencies Government corporations

Cabinet Departments 15 total cabinet departments Secretary of State was the first created; department of Homeland Security was the latest President has the power to appoint or fire the top officials

Cabinet Departments Department of Defense

Independent Executive Agencies Not located within a department but report directly to the president President appoints chief officials EPA; NASA

Independent Regulatory Agencies Make and implement rules and regulations in a particular sphere of action to protect the public interest Heads and members of agency are appointed by president with consent of the Senate, but do not report to the president

Agency "Capture" Many feel that agencies have been captured by the industries and firms that they were supposed to regulate Agencies may consult with leaders of he industry they are regulating and be influenced by their suggestions

Iron Triangles Three way alliance among legislatures, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests

How it works Everyone in the triangle has a similar interest Legislators get funding from interest groups and make laws with the help of bureaucracy Interest groups provide valued information to bureaucrats and money to legislatures Bureaucrats implement legislator policy and interest group goals

Why called "Iron Triangles?" Strong, bond can't be broken by President or Congress Might maintain interests that might not be publicly popular...such as?

Regulation v. Deregulation Many saw inadequate regulation of the financial industry as cause for 2008 recession Same goes for BP Oil Spill in 2010 Many see regulation as a conflict to free enterprise

Government Corporations "Quasi- business" run by the government Very different from a private corporation Bank failures and the FDIC

Staffing the Bureaucracy Two types of bureaucrats, political appointees and civil servants All appointees must be qualified to fill the position and confirmed by the Senate

Spoils System "To the victor goes the spoils" Process started by Andrew Jackson Led to increasing corruption in bureaucracy

Pendleton Act Passed in 1883 to place limits in the spoils system Established the principle of employment on the basis of open, competitive examinations Created the Civil Service Commission

Modern Reform Attempts Sunshine and sunset laws Incentives for efficiency Whistleblower protections

Sunshine Laws 1976 Government in the Sunshine Act required all federal agencies to hold their meetings regularly in public session Freedom of information Act (FOIA) requires gov agencies yo disclose to individuals any information contained in government files

Sunshine Laws Post- 9/11 The trend toward government in the sunshine has been reversed Many documents have now been made inaccessible to the public

Sunset Laws Places government programs on a definite schedule for Congressional review Unless program needs reauthorization, the program will be terminated

Whistleblower Someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action The government has instituted laws to protect whistleblowers Whistleblowers can receive $ reward if government prosecutes the case and wins

Effective Protections? Little evidence whistleblowers have received effective protection Office of Special Counsel (OSC) closed many cases without investigation during Bush administration Garcetti v. Ceballos

The Man Who Knew Bernie Madoff was brought down by a whistleblower The Man Who Knew