The Federal Bureaucracy The Fourth Branch of Government Wilson- Chapter 15

Our American Bureaucracy The agencies, departments, commissions, etc. in the Executive Branch Executive Office of the President Cabinet Independent Agencies Organized like Cabinet depts., but lack cabinet status NASA, SBA, FEMA Govt Corporations Post Office, FDIC, TVA

Our American Bureaucracy Independent Regulatory Commissions Created by Congress to regulate important aspects of the nation’s economy Decisions are usually beyond presidential control (though Commissioners are appointed by the president) Commissioners. Serve long terms (5-14 years) Only a bare majority of commissioners can be of same party Staggered terms Commish can only be fired by Prez for causes Congress has specified

Our American Bureaucracy Independent Regulatory Commissions Continued Commish has quasi-legislative power. Rules and regulations which have the force of law. Quasi-judicial power: settle disputes in their fields (FCC fines of Howard Stern) Some commissions: Federal Reserve Board FCC NLRB FEC SEC FTC

Growth of the Bureaucracy Spoils system prior to late 19th Century Assassination of Prez. Garfield by disappointed office seeker in 1881 led to passage of Pendleton Act Civil service created with exam-based merit system Today, 90% of fed employees are civil service

Growth of the Bureaucracy Size 3 million plus = extremely LARGE! Fairly consistent # since the 50s Does this mean bureaucrats are just more efficient since there are more programs and responsibilities? Why or why not?

Growth of the Bureaucracy Power Discretionary Authority: Agencies have the power to choose various courses of action when Congress writes broadly-worded laws Passing rules and regulations Help Congress draft legislation Advice to the WH Settle disputes

Growth of the Bureaucracy Reasons for Growth: National growth Technology International Crises (Defense Dept) Welfare Nation Agencies perpetuate their own survival

Bureaucratic behavior Recruitment and retention Appointed by merit system exam Ways around this (job qualification only one person can fill, temp appointment, lower job w/ responsibilities) Bonus pts for vets, race, gender Difficult to fire

Bureaucratic behavior Recruitment and retention Impact of policies Loyalty to agency Continuity of agency behavior Expertise Managers must have support of subordinates

Bureaucratic behavior Personal Attributes Representative of American people Upper level: middle aged white males Tendency to be more liberal Activist agency workers are more liberal (EPA) 30% in Defense Less than 15% in welfare

Bureaucratic behavior Legal Constraints Freedom of Information Act Hatch Act: limits political activity of Bureaucrats Affirmative Action Environmental Impact reports on projects

Services Competitive Service – offices where one is appointed on the basis of merit, through test or credentials Schedule C – jobs that have policy determining or confidential character below cabinet level – aide, special advisor Expected – employees hired outside competitive service, NOT hired by OPM , CIA, FBI, Post office

Is It independent? Can seem independent Large Specialized expertise VERY difficult to fire people in the bureaucracy Agencies are independent Congress and prez delegate authority to bureaucracy They can’t handle everything, so you handle it Discretionary authority – legislation lacks detail, so bur. can fill it in

Controlling the Bureaucracy Presidential Influence Appoint/ Fire top-level Propose reorganization of exec. Branch Propose Agency budgets 7000 senior appointments Checks on Prez influence Senate confirmation Congress approves reorganization Congress approves budgets

Controlling the Bureaucracy Congressional Influences Appropriations of agency budgets Standing Committee oversight Reorganization Appointment confirmation Sunset laws give agencies limited life Checks on Congressional influence Members benefit from agencies in state/district Easier to have bur. work out details of laws No legislative veto

Controlling the Bureaucracy Interest Group Influence Revolving door Client groups Iron Triangles (Congressional Comm, Relevant Agency, Interest Group) Media Influence Courts Privatization of some aspects (Concessions in national parks) Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review

NPR Found the bureaucracy was too centralized ALWAYS C.Y.A… Too rule bound Too little concern with making programs work Too much concerned with scandal ALWAYS C.Y.A… Bureaucracy is tied to gov’t problems

Weberian Model Weber’s essential features of a bureaucracy: Hierarchical Authority Structure power flows from top down and responsibility from the bottom up Task Specialization Extensive Rules Merit Principle Impersonality

How would you evaluate the Bureaucracy?