The federal bureaucracy “the fourth branch”

Structure of the Bureaucracy

Structure of the Bureaucracy Definition: the agencies, departments, commissions, etc. within the executive branch Myths of the Bureaucracy Americans dislike bureaucrats Bureaucracies are growing bigger each year Most federal bureaucrats live in DC Bureaucracies are ineffective, inefficient, and mired in red tape Includes Exec. Office of the President, the Cabinet (already covered)

Independent regulatory commissions Created by Congress to regulate important aspects of the nations economy Generally, decisions of these are beyond presidential control Quasi-legislative power (make rules and regulations). Policy implementation Quasi-judicial power—settle disputes in their fields

Important regulatory commissions Federal Reserve Board FCC (Federal Communications Commission) FEC (Federal Election Commission) NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) FTC (Federal Trade Commission) FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)

Government corporations Created by Congress to carry out various business operations Postal Service FDIC TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) Amtrak

Independent agencies Organized like Cabinet depts., but lack status NASA SBA (Small Business Administration)

Growth of the Bureaucracy

Background Development of the civil service system Size Prior to late 19th century, the spoils system was used Pendleton Civil Service Act (1881)—merit system Hatch Act (1993)—gov’t employees cannot actively participate in politics Size Roughly 3 million (2.7 million currently) Power of the bureaucracy Discretionary authority—when Congress writes broadly-worded laws it allows for bureaucratic interpretation

Reasons for growth of the bureaucracy National growth—need for agencies to cope w/ higher population Technology International crises—increased power of Defense dept. Citizen demands—gov’t should assume some responsibility for welfare of the nation Persistent nature of agencies—once created, they are hard to get rid of

Government Employment at Federal, State, and Local Levels © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Federal Government: Money, People, and Regulations just the bottom chart.

Federal Government: Money, People, and Regulations just the bottom chart.

Warm up Identify the 5 components of the federal bureaucracy. What are independent regulatory commissions? Give an example. Explain the civil service system and how it has evolved.

Influences on Bureaucratic Behavior

Influences on the Bureaucracy Recruitment & retention policies “buddy system” or a “good ol’ boys network” Very difficult to fire civil servants Effects: continuity, expertise in policies Personal attributes of bureaucrats More representative of the American people Legal constraints Organizational constraints

Controlling the Bureaucracy

Presidential influences Powers Appointment/firing Propose budgets Reorganization—although difficult, it is possible Checks on presidential influence All the above must go through Congress

Congressional influences Powers Appropriations of agency budgets $$$ Standing oversight committees Government Accountability Office (GAO) Appointment confirmations Limits on congressional influence Congress may not want to interfere in bureaucracy

Interest group influence Lobbying Revolving door Iron triangles

Other influences Media Courts Privatization