The Institutions Unit IVC The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy A systematic and hierarchical organization in government established to develop and implement policies and regulations in relation to enacted legislation Principles Hierarchical Authority Pyramid structure Job Specialization Division of labor; specific duties and responsibilities for each individual position Rules and Regulations Established regulations and procedures for facilitation

Development of the Federal Bureaucracy Early Constitutional Period Small number of agencies and positions Selection based on qualifications and political affiliation Antebellum Period Jackson and the spoils system Late 19 th Century Reform movements Pendleton Act/Civil Service Act of 1883 Merit system, competitive exams; limited partisan politics Established Civil Service Commission to enforce Modern Bureaucracy Agencies grew substantially due to New Deal programs, cooperative federalism Hatch Act (1939) Limited political activities on duty, use of position for campaigns Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 Established Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Established government employee classifications and salaries, training and recruitment programs Protection of whistleblowers

Growth of Modern Bureaucracy Power and Justification Evolving Government for Evolving World Technological development, efficient communication, world affairs, globalization require increased diligence and vigilance Buddy System Agencies may request to fill a position and specifically name an individual for the job Difficulty of Termination Numerous steps to ultimately fire a government employee Official record of chronic behavior, substantial evidence, public hearings, viable witnesses, right of due process, appeals

Federal Bureaucracy Organization Executive Departments Cabinet-level executive agencies established for specific policy areas Independent Executive Agencies Established for policy areas but regarded more as think tanks, analysis, and information Some major administrative agencies Independent Regulatory Agencies Agencies that regulate and police; enforcers of legislation Administrative legislation Government Corporations Business-like agencies usually providing goods and services

The Executive Departments Dept. of State Foreign affairs Dept. of Treasury Prints currency; collects revenue/taxes; IRS Dept. of Defense Dept. of Justice FBI; ATF; DEA Dept. of Interior Federal land and natural resources; native relations and territory administration Dept. of Agriculture Dept. of Commerce Dept. of Labor Dept. of Health and Human Services Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Dept. of Transportation Dept. of Energy Dept. of Education Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs Dept. of Homeland Security Coast Guard, ICE, Secret Service

Independent Executive Agencies Small Business Administration (SBA) Promote small businesses and economic recovery Social Security Administration (SSA) Social security checks and applications National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) Air and space exploration and technology Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Foreign policy information; espionage

Independent Regulatory Agencies Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Prevent monopolies; consumer protection Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Securities, stocks, bonds, commodity trading Federal Reserve Monetary policy National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Federal Elections Commission (FEC) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil aviation Environmental Protection Agency Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Employee safety and working standards Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Government Corporations Tennessee Valley Authority AMTRAK (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) United States Postal Service (USPS) Mail delivery Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Government enterprises Fannie Mae Freddie Mac

Bureaucrats as Policymakers Iron Triangles Bureaucratic Agency Bureaucratic Agency Receive increased power and appropriations Receive increased power and appropriations Congressional Committee Congressional Committee Receive electoral support and campaign contributions Receive electoral support and campaign contributions Interest Groups Interest Groups Interests satisfied Interests satisfied Designed for mutual benefit Issue Networks Congressional Staff Congressional Staff Experts/Professors Experts/Professors Interest Groups Interest Groups Mass Media Mass Media Designed for the benefit of public interest

Controlling the Bureaucrats Congress Authorization Permitting funds by related committees Appropriations Determination of amount allocated by Appropriations Committee Oversight Supervision and investigations by committees Legislative Authority Pass laws to limit or terminate an agency Supreme Court Rule a policy/law/executive action unconstitutional

Bureaucratic Issues/Problems Red Tape Complex rules and procedures to accomplish tasks “Make sure the government is being equal and just.” ‘Too much paperwork. Slows down process. Frustrating for constituents.’ Conflict Rivalries between agencies on similar policies ‘Sometimes the goal/objective is overlooked by competition.’ Duplication Agencies performing same or similar tasks “Congress doesn’t know what it’s doing, but they made the laws so we follow them.” Imperialism Increase of agency’s power and influence no matter the cost “We interpreted the vague law as best we could and developed our policies in accordance. Tell Congress to write clearer laws.” Waste Inefficient use of funding and manpower; spending too much “Why lower costs? We’re the government. There’s plenty.” ‘Lining the pockets of bureaucrats and lobbyists.’