Uzma Alam The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy A bureaucracy is a large organization composed of appointed officials in which authority is divided among several manager

Three aspects of our constitutional system and political traditions give to the bureaucracy a distinctive character Both the president and Congress exercise authority over the bureaucracy. Many agencies work with other organizations at other levels of the government. The US government regulates privately owned enterprises to a degree not found in many other countries

The Growth of the Bureaucracy In the first Congress, in 1789, James Madison introduced a bill to create a Department of State to assist the new secretary of state. People appointed to this department were to be nominated by the president and approved by the Senate, but could be removed by the president only. Grew after the Civil war with industrialization

Congress reserve the right to appropriate money, to investigate the administration, and the shape the laws that would be executed by that administration

Activist of Agencies Few new federal employees since 1960 but many more private contract employees and state/local government employees. Congress more power over subsidies to groups (e.g. farmers, veterans); grants to states; regulations of schools, health, etc.

Bureaucrats There are employees of agencies or bureaus They cant be fired for political reason They are called “civil servants” They represent the cross section of American society. Agencies are dominated by lifetime bureaucrats who have worked for no other agency

Agencies often seek alliances with congressional committees or interest groups Issue networks: groups that regularly debate government policy on certain issues – often partisan and contentious

Congressional Oversight Forms of congressional supervision No agencies can exist without congressional approval ( agencies are created by the congress) No money can be spent unless congress has first authorized it Even funds that have been authorized cannot be spent unless they are also appropriated

The Appropriations Committee and legislative committees Appropriations Committee most powerful Most expenditure recommendations are approved by House Tends to recommend amount lower than agency request Legislative committees are important when A law is first passed An agency is first created

Reforming the Bureaucracy There are five frequently mentioned problems with the bureaucracy Red tape--complex and sometimes conflicting rules Conflict--agencies work at cross-purposes Duplication--two or more agencies seem to do the same thing Imperialism--tendency of agencies to grow, irrespective of benefits and costs of programs Waste--spending more than is necessary to buy some product or service

Numerous attempts to make bureaucracy work better for less money National Performance Review (NPR) in 1993 designed to reinvent government http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Government;jsessionid=B6FED7615280134672E91A9714D52903