Consider: Why do some call the Bucy the “4 th branch of government? The Last Word: #14 for tomorrow

Unit 4b AP Government and Politics

What is a “bureaucracy”? We know the second half of the word, “ cracy ” means “to rule”. And “bureau” is a French word for “desk”… So together, the word bureau- cracy literally means “to rule from a desk”. The idea is that government workers, who often work at desks, are essentially “ruling us”… – Why might this be controversial?

What is a “bureaucracy”? A large, complex group organized according to a certain structure

The Federal “B’ucy”  Anecdotally…the “government”.  Divided into 3 basic parts  Executive (Cabinet) departments  Independent Executive Agencies  The Executive Office of the President

Some Bureaucratic Myths and realities  Americans dislike bureaucrats.  Americans are generally satisfied with bureaucrats, though they may dislike agencies or the “bucy” as a whole (see: Congress)  Bureaucracies are growing bigger each year.  Not the federal bureaucracy.  Most federal bureaucrats work in Washington, D.C.  Only about 12 percent do.  Bureaucracies are ineffective, inefficient, and always mired in red tape.  Research suggests not much more so than private businesses.

How do we feel about government/bureaucracy?  Q: How many government bureaucrats does it take to screw in a light bulb?  A: Two. One to assure everyone that everything possible is being done while the other screws the bulb into the water faucet.  Q: How many government workers does it take to screw in a light bulb?  A: Two. One to screw it in and one to screw it up.

Quotes on Bureaucracy  There’s a new game that's sweeping the country. It's called "Bureaucracy" Everybody stands in a circle. The first person to do anything loses.  “The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is its inefficiency.”  “In any bureaucracy, paper work increases as you spend more and more time reporting on the less and less you are doing”  “Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible”

The “Rules” of Bureaucracy  Preserve thyself.  It is easier to fix the blame than to fix the problem.  A penny saved is an oversight.  Information deteriorates upward.  The first 90% of the task takes 90% of the time; the last 10% takes the other 90%.  Experience is what you get just after you need it.  For any given large, complex, hard-to-understand, expensive problem, there exists at least one short, simple, easy, cheap wrong answer.  Anything that can be changed will be, until time runs out.  To err is human; to shrug is civil service.  There’s never enough time to do it right, but there’s always enough time to do it over.  Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will.  O’Toole’s Corollary – Murphy was an optimist.

Are these characterizations fair?  america/dia_8/dia_8_video.html america/dia_8/dia_8_video.html

Roots and Growth of the Federal Bureaucracy  The Civil War and the Growth of Government  From the Spoils System to the Merit System  Regulating Commerce  The World Wars and the Growth of Government 8.1

Founding to the Civil War  Patronage used to fill positions  Remains focused on service, as opposed to regulatory function The Birthof the Bureaucracy Not created by the Constitution Begins small, only to perform the basic functions of government, and the post office As nation grows, Bucy grows with it.

The Civil War and the Growth of Government  Civil War changes Creation of the Department of Agriculture Creation of the Pension Office Authorization of thousands more employees  Permanent changes to the bureaucracy  Used to meet demands that were arising in the nation 8.1

From the Spoils System to the Merit System – The Era of Reform Civil War demonstrates need for better or more organized bucy; industrialization also increases need Over 200,000 employees added between New departments created Progressive Movement advocates for an end to patronage Pendleton Act creates merit-based system for hiring Merit system Jobs given according to ability Civil Service system Current system based on merit

Regulating Commerce  Growth of big business Unfair business practices  Additional depts Reaction to railroad shipping rates, ICC created as first Indie Reg commission Changing focus: from service to regulation Protect workers and small businesses from big businesses  Sixteenth Amendment Federal income tax 8.1

The World Wars and the Growth of Government  Franklin D. Roosevelt Social programs during Depression  World War II veterans benefits G.I. Bill, housing  Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation Most recent: the dept of Homeland Security 8.1

FIGURE 8.1: How many employees work in the federal executive branch? 8.1

Bureaucratic Growth

Working for “the Man”…  Who are the “’crats”?  Directly (bucy; about 4 million) and indirectly (private companies and contractors; as many as 8-10 million more) employed or funded by the federal government  Types of jobs:  Competitive (general exam by OPM) vs. excepted (hired by agencies for specific jobs) service  Name – request – specific person hired for specific job  The buddy system…good or bad?

Trimming the fat? GwGP4s