AP U.S. Government & Politics Chapter 14 Mr. S. Kolesar 2016-2017 The Bureaucracy AP U.S. Government & Politics Chapter 14 Mr. S. Kolesar 2016-2017

Questions to Consider Why are government bureaucracies necessary? What political decisions do bureaucrats make? Why is it so difficult to manage the bureaucracy?

What is a bureaucracy? A large organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions. Public v. Private bureaucracies Private has a single set of leaders (Board of directors), Public does not (President, Congress, citizens) Private corporations are organized to make a profit, public bureaucracies are not.

3 Models of Bureaucracy Weberian Model – (classic model) – bureaucracies are rational, hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning, Power flows from the top downward. Bureaucrats are specialists who follow a distinct set of rules in their decision making. Promotion is based on merit, not political connections. Acquisitive Model – Views top-level bureaucrats as seeking ways to expand the size of their budgets and staffs to gain greater power. Maximize the size and power of their organizations by “selling” their product – national defense, public housing, etc…

3 Models of Bureaucracy – (Continued) Monopolistic Model – a model of bureaucracy that compares bureaucracies to monopolistic business firms. Lack of competition in either circumstance leads to inefficient and costly operations. National bureaucracies often provide financial assistance to their state counterparts. For example, the Dept. of Education distributes funds to its counterpart at the state level.

Size of the Bureaucracy Excluding the military, approx. 2.7M See Figure 14-1 in the textbook

Administrative Agencies Federal, state, or local government units established to perform specific functions. Administrative agencies are created and authorized by legislative bodies to administer and enforce specific laws. The following are specific types of Administrative Agencies

The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy (15) Cabinet Departments – Major service organizations of the federal government. Directly accountable to the POTUS and responsible for performing government functions. (training troops, printing $$) Created by Congress Headed by a Secretary (Except for Justice Dept.) Heads appointed by POTUS w/ Senate approval Removed by POTUS w/o Senate approval

The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Independent Executive Agencies – bureaucratic organizations not located within a department, but report directly to the POTUS. Chief official appointed by POTUS , Generally need Senate approval Examples – CIA, Smithsonian Institution

The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Independent Regulatory Agencies – an agency outside the major executive departments charged with making and implementing rules and regulations within a particular sphere of action in order to protect the public interest. Technically operate independent of the 3 main branches of government. Regulatory agencies (actually) make rules, enforce those rules, and decide disputes involving rules they made. Examples – FCC, EPA, FEC

Government Corporations An agency of government that administers a quasi-business enterprise. These corporations are used when activities are primarily commercial. Comprised of a board of directors and managers. No stock for sale. If it makes a profit, it stays in the corporation, not distributed. Examples – US Postal Service, AMTRAK

Challenges to the Bureaucracy The federal bureaucracy is both complex and very specialized. Agencies have their own missions, goals, and interests to protect. Overlapping jurisdictions cause problems. Example – Dept. of Homeland Security established in 2003 to merge 32 agencies with responsibilities for preventing terrorism into a single department. Problem – FBI & CIA are not part of the DHS. FEMA – charged with federal control over natural disasters, but not in control of the National Guard or HUD, or Health & Human Services.

Staffing the Bureaucracy Two Categories 1. Political appointees Top Spots Patronage Experience Screening Process Senate Confirmation

Staffing the Bureaucracy 2. Civil Servants – a collective term for the body of employees working for the government. (generally through a merit system) Very difficult to fire civil servants. (appeal system) Andrew Jackson and the spoils system 1883 – Pendleton Act – established the principle of employment on the basis of merit and created the Civil Service Commission to administer the personnel service.

Staffing the Bureaucracy Civil Service Reform Act (1978) Abolished Civil Service Commission Created the Office of Personnel Management Recruit, interview, & test prospective workers Determine who should be hired Created the Merit Systems Protection Board Evaluates charges of wrongdoing Hears employee appeals Orders corrective action against agencies & employees

Miscellaneous Info Sunset Legislation – laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically extended as a result of these reviews. Privatization – The replacement of government services with services provided by private firms. Ex. Prisons. Whistleblowers – someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action.

Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policy Makers Enabling Legislation – A statute enacted by Congress that authorizes the creation of an administrative agency and specifies the name, purpose, composition, functions, and powers of the agency being created. This is a Congressional delegation of power to administrative agencies. Rule making and the Federal Register (a daily governmental publication) https://www.federalregister.gov/ Comments, redrafts, withdrawals 60-day waiting period once published Challenges

Bureaucrats are Policy Makers Iron Triangles (Issue Networks) – The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= emMnFMiEEWU

Iron Triangle

Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy (AKA Oversight) Enabling legislation specifies powers of the agency Power of the purse and appropriations Investigations and hearings to oversee the agency’s actions. Government Accountability Office (GAO) & the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) can also investigate agencies.