1. What is a bureaucracy?
Set of complex hierarchical departments, agencies, and their staffs that exist to help the president carry out the mandated charge to “enforce the laws” of the nation.
First studied by Max Weber
Most effective existing form of organization based on: specialization, hierarchy and formal rules

2. Development of the Bureaucracy
Washington’s Bureaucracy:
State
War
Treasury
Later: Justice

3. Development Continued
Increased Demands – increased size of the bureaucracy
Spoils System (Andrew Jackson) led to the Merit System (Pendleton Act passed to reduce patronage)
Regulation of the Economy – Independent Regulatory Agencies (Humphrey’s case)

4. More history of the Bureaucracy
New Deal Created more programs, thus more agencies to “enforce”
World War II and later – more demands placed on the government
System has led to one where bureaucrats have TENURE and KNOWLEDGE that can be used to leverage policy makers

5. Government Organization
The Cabinet
Biggest Units (15)
Broad areas of responsibility
Secretary is the “head” – responsible for setting the policy
Responsible to the President
Also responsible to his/her cabinet department – split loyalties

6. Organization Government Corporations Set up by Congress
Functions that could be private
Some funding from US
Directors appointed by President with Senate approval
Amtrak, Post Office

7. More Organization Independent Agencies: Regulatory Agencies
Not part of any Cabinet department
Stand Alone
CIA, NASA, EPA
Similar in Structure to the Cabinet departments
Regulatory Agencies
Humphrey’s Executor case
Outside the direct control of the President
FCC, FTC, ICC
Economic issues
Out of politics

8. Congressional Control
Congress may:
Create or abolish agencies and change their functions
Confirm the appointment of the heads (only the Senate)
Hold hearings to check the agencies plus the power to investigate – oversight function
Budget Controls – more than 200 wasteful programs in the United States Government (duplication issues)
Pass New laws to overrule agency decisions
Legislative veto – ruled unconstitutional in the case of INS v. Chadha

9. Presidential Control Reorganization
Executive Orders – presidential directive
Centralized Power – all regulations through the OMB
Agencies not responsive – multiple access points

10. Bureaucratic Policy Making
Major Function of the Agencies
Congress Delegates the Power
Creation of Agency
Mandate – authority to make decisions
Implementation – process by which the law or policy is put into operation

11. Policy Making Arrangements
Iron Triangles
Stable relationships and pattern of interaction that occur among an agency, interest group and congressional committees
Not as popular today

12. More arrangements Issue Networks:
Loose and informal set of relationships that exist among large number of actors who work in broad policy areas.

13. The Hatch Act and Beyond
1939 passed
Law enacted to prohibit civil servants from taking an activist role in partisan politics
Is this a violation of the First Amendment?

14. Changes to the Hatch Act
Federal Employees Political Activities Act
1993
Liberalization of Hatch Act
Run for non partisan offices and make contributions
First Amendment wins