Bureaucratic Structures  Executive Departments (15 Cabinet-level departments)  Independent Regulatory and Quasi-Independent Agencies: each responsible for regulating a sector of the economy in the “public interest”; their extensive rulemaking and adjudication powers have earned them the title “4 th branch of government.” ICC (now defunct), FTC, FPC, SEC, FCC, NLRB, FAA, EPA, FDA  Government corporations – TVA, U.S. Postal Service, COMSAT, Amtrak  Independent Executive Agencies NASA, VA, NSF, GSA

Distinctive Traits of American Bureaucracy Political authority is not in one set of hands but shared among institutions Political authority is not in one set of hands but shared among institutions Most agencies share their functions with related agencies at the state and local level Most agencies share their functions with related agencies at the state and local level They exist within the context of an “adversary culture” They exist within the context of an “adversary culture”

Bureaucratic Pathologies Bureaucratic ideal – Max Weber Bureaucratic ideal – Max Weber –Hierarchical structure with top-down chain of command –Division/specialization of labor within the organization –Meritocracy – recruitment/promotion based on demonstrated ability –Rules-based decision making –Rational decision making: define problem, identify range of solutions, choose option(s) which maximize benefits for minimum societal costs

Bureaucratic Pathologies Bureaucratic realities Bureaucratic realities –Hierarchical structure compromised by informal and competing lines of authority/influence –Overlapping areas of responsibility which lead to “turf wars” and inter-agency rivalries; may be result of “overspecialization” –Political appointees compromise standards of professionalism –Complexity of rules inhibit efficiency and even fairness –Rational decision making too often compromised by or even sacrificed for non-rational, e.g. political or personal, considerations

Non-Rational Components of Decision Making Partisan political considerations Partisan political considerations Personal policy preferences Personal policy preferences Careerism – job security or enhancement Careerism – job security or enhancement –Don’t show up superiors – “Hierarchy corrupts communication” –Groupthink – “to get along, you have to go along” –Empire building – place within agency and larger structures of government –Corruption Institutional inertia – generalized resistance to change; inherent institutional conservatism protects traditional lines of authority, careers, areas of expertise Institutional inertia – generalized resistance to change; inherent institutional conservatism protects traditional lines of authority, careers, areas of expertise

Non-Rational Components of Decision Making Stress, overwork, burnout following course of least resistance, going through the motions, low morale, absenteeism high turnover compromised professionalism Stress, overwork, burnout following course of least resistance, going through the motions, low morale, absenteeism high turnover compromised professionalism Agency capture Agency capture –Results from the “revolving door” –Results in the fox guarding the henhouse

Quiz 1: Chapter 1 According to our authors, why has government in general, and bureaucracy in particular, grown so extensively in the past century in this country? According to our authors, why has government in general, and bureaucracy in particular, grown so extensively in the past century in this country?