The Federal Bureaucracy Bureaucracy is a system of organization and control that is based on three principles: Hierarchical authority Job specialization: Formalized rules

Concluded bureaucratic efficiency is achieved at a high price. Max Weber Concluded bureaucratic efficiency is achieved at a high price. It forces employees to behave as rational actors. In the process, they become insensitive to circumstance. “Specialist without spirit.”

1. Bureaucracy is an inevitable consequence of complexity and scale 2. Bureaucrats naturally take an “agency point of view”, seeking to promote their agency’s program and power. 3. Although agencies are subject to oversight by the president, Congress, and the judiciary, bureaucrats exercise considerable power in their own right.

Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy 1800: small 3,000 employees. Government’s role confined to defense and foreign affairs, currency and interstate commerce and delivery of mail. Grew because of economic growth new demands. 1889 Department of Agriculture. 1903: Business and labor interests: Dept. of Commerce and Labor Biggest growth 1930’s FDR New Deal Federal employment has not changed much since 1960’s.

Types of Federal Agencies Five Forms Cabinet (15 departments ) State oldest, Smallest 25,000 employees Dept. of Defense Largest workforce 600,000 civilian employees, 1.4 million service members Dept. of Health and Human Services. Largest budget accounts for ¼ of all federal spending on SS and Medicaid Dept. of Homeland Security 2002

have narrow area of responsibility CIA, NASA Independent Agencies have narrow area of responsibility CIA, NASA Heads of these agencies are appointed by and report to president but are not cabinet

Regulatory agencies Responsible for monitoring and regulation of ongoing economic activities. SEC Securities and Exchange Commission Environmental Protection agency EPA They also have a legislative function and a judicial function. Develop law-like regulation and then judge whether individuals or organizations are complying with them.

. Government Corporations similar to private corporation in that they charge for services but receive federal funding to help defray expenses.

Presidential commissions provide advice to the president

Federal Employment 2.5 million full-time civilian employees Merit system Competitive exam Office of Personnel Management and Merit Service protection Board 1883 Pendleton Act: established a merit system for certain positions. 1885 10%, Progressives championed 1920 70% Today 90%   Objective : Neutral competence

Large majority of federal employees have a GS ( Graded Service) Regular civil serve rankings from GS-1 to GS-15 College grads state at GS-5 27,000, masters GS-9 40,000 Underpaid but fringe benefits

The Hatch Act of 1939 prohibits civil servants from holding key jobs in election campaigns. Congress has related this prohibition in 1993 although some are still barred from taking such positions.  

Power of Federal Bureaucracy Legislative: Agencies create the rules and regulation needed to perform their duties Executive: Agencies enforce their rules, often after they have had the duty to create the rules Judicial : Agencies rule on regulatory issues and can impose penalties and fines.

How Branches Control the Bureaucracy Legislative: Controls the purse strings. (Budgets) Creates new rules/restrictions and can eliminate an agency Executive: Orders and direct agencies to follow presidential directives Judicial: Agencies actions can be cut down, Overturned and eliminated

Public Control over Bureaucracy Lobby Congress Lobby agency Challenge agency in Court