Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy Line at the DMV

Bureaucracy Large, complex organization of appointed, not elected, officials. “bureau” – French for small desks, referring to the king’s traveling business men who set up small desks in town squares Bureaucracy = “government of small desks”

Max Weber Famous early 20th century economist, German Bureaucracy – well organized, complex machine that is a “rational” way for society to organize its business

Weber Characteristics Hierarchical authority structure – chain of command Task specialization – individuals have unique jobs, division of labor Extensive rules – clear policies for the organization to follow Clear goals – clearly defined mission

Weber Merit principle – hiring and promotion based on qualities, no jobs for favors Impersonality – performance judged on productivity Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

It’s… ALIVE!!! There is a bureaucracy everywhere… government, of course schools churches your work place your family even among your friends because we need lots of help and guidance to get jobs done…

They must… Answer to competing sources of political authority Function in a constitutional system that fragments power (decentralization) Achieve vague and often competing goals (save the environment - produce fuel??) Deal with few incentives that value efficiency

The Bureaucracy continued… The power of a bureaucracy must be measured by its authority, not by the number of employees or size of its budget War and depression have been the main sources of bureaucratic growth over time How bureaucrats use their authority can be explained by their recruitment and job security, their political views and by the nature of the tasks their agencies perform…

Modern Bureaucracy 1932-1945 – New Deal, WWII, increase in programs and gov’t work 1950’s – 1970’s – 90% of all federal employees were chosen on merit Salaries also chosen on merit

Who are bureaucrats? 1 out of 100 Americans work for government bureaucracy Examples US Postal Service Amtrak Corporation for Public Broadcasting Interstate Commerce Commission Federal Trade Commisson Securities and Exchange Commission National Aeronautics and Space Administration

What do bureaucrats do? Discretionary action – have the power to execute laws and policies passed down by the president or congress. Implementation – develop procedures and rules for reaching the goal of a new policy Regulation – check private business activity Munn v. Illinois (1877) – SC upheld that government had the right to regulate business rates and services

Accountability Bureaucracy is constrained and controlled by the US government Congress appropriates money, authorizes the spending of money, oversees agency activity President Job appointments, executive orders, budget control, reorganize agencies

Iron Triangles CONGRESS INTEREST GROUPS BUREAUCRACY Iron Triangle - three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests

Iron Triangles

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

List of Interest Groups http://www.twyman-whitney.com/americancitizen/links/lobbies.htm

Why are they “iron”? Strong – bond can’t be broken by President or Congress Referred to as “sub governments,” all the real decisions are made among these 3 groups Might maintain interests that might not be publicly popular… like what?

Example – Why is tobacco not illegal? House and Senate agricultural subcommittees Tobacco farmer interest groups (tobacco lobby) Department of Agriculture House and Senate representatives, sympathetic to tobacco, receive campaign funds and support from tobacco by interest groups, and the representatives make sure that tobacco farmers are defended through legislation. DOA agency executes the legislation while relying on the Congressional budget. The interest groups provide the DOA with valuable information to effectively execute laws. -COMMON INTEREST – Keep tobacco alive = keep their jobs alive

Other Iron Triangle Example

Daily Show Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVPMeoGGhcg

Issue Network More complicated connection exists Iron triangle too simple – there are IGs from opposite sides of an issue who compete Issue Network – complex group (includes media) that debates an issue and slows policy-making Policy-making is not as smooth with competing demands from IGs President can appoint an agency head who steers policy, but can never smoothly control policy

Does it work? Yes, actually, surprisingly well Look at the mail service or the fact that we made it to the moon - But it could be better and more efficient perhaps

Reforms Lots of attempts - 11 just in the 1990s Most revolve around centralizing authority Employee initiatives Fewer detailed rules and more customer satisfaction But difficult to accomplish Most rules and red tape are struggles between the president and Congress or are a by-product of divided government and micromanagement

Controlling the Bureaucracy Patronage - Rewarding supporters with jobs “Spoils system” – created by Andrew Jackson, each President turned over the bureaucracy Pendleton Act (1883) - Created in response to criticism of patronage, more jobs will be selected based on merit Hatch Act (1939) – agency employees can’t participate in political activities (elections, campaigns, fund raisers, etc.) Softened in recent decades, 1st Amendment issues

The Federal Bureaucracy Today Tribune Media Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed by permission. One barrier to improving presidential control of the federal bureaucracy is that even the White House has become a large bureaucracy. p. 411 Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Criticism of Bureaucracy “Red tape” – maze of gov rules, regulations, and paperwork that makes gov overwhelming to citizens Conflict – agencies that often work toward opposite goals Duplication – agencies appear to do the same thing Unchecked growth – agencies expand unnecessarily at high costs Waste – spending more than necessary Lack of accountability – difficult in firing an incompetent bureaucrat