1. The Federal Bureaucracy The Fourth Branch of Government
Wilson- Chapter 15

2. Our American Bureaucracy
The agencies, departments, commissions, etc. in the Executive Branch
Executive Office of the President
Cabinet
Independent Agencies
Organized like Cabinet depts., but lack cabinet status
NASA, SBA, FEMA
Govt Corporations
Post Office, FDIC, TVA

3. Our American Bureaucracy
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Created by Congress to regulate important aspects of the nation’s economy
Decisions are usually beyond presidential control (though Commissioners are appointed by the president)
Commissioners. Serve long terms (5-14 years)
Only a bare majority of commissioners can be of same party
Staggered terms
Commish can only be fired by Prez for causes Congress has specified

4. Our American Bureaucracy
Independent Regulatory Commissions Continued
Commish has quasi-legislative power. Rules and regulations which have the force of law.
Quasi-judicial power: settle disputes in their fields (FCC fines of Howard Stern)
Some commissions:
Federal Reserve Board
FCC
NLRB
FEC
SEC
FTC

5. Growth of the Bureaucracy
Spoils system prior to late 19th Century
Assassination of Prez. Garfield by disappointed office seeker in 1881 led to passage of Pendleton Act
Civil service created with exam-based merit system
Today, 90% of fed employees are civil service

6. Growth of the Bureaucracy
Size
3 million plus = extremely LARGE!
Fairly consistent # since the 50s
Does this mean bureaucrats are just more efficient since there are more programs and responsibilities?
Why or why not?

7. Growth of the Bureaucracy
Power
Discretionary Authority: Agencies have the power to choose various courses of action when Congress writes broadly-worded laws
Passing rules and regulations
Help Congress draft legislation
Advice to the WH
Settle disputes

8. Growth of the Bureaucracy
Reasons for Growth:
National growth
Technology
International Crises (Defense Dept)
Welfare Nation
Agencies perpetuate their own survival

11. Bureaucratic behavior
Recruitment and retention
Appointed by merit system exam
Ways around this (job qualification only one person can fill, temp appointment, lower job w/ responsibilities)
Bonus pts for vets, race, gender
Difficult to fire

12. Bureaucratic behavior
Recruitment and retention
Impact of policies
Loyalty to agency
Continuity of agency behavior
Expertise
Managers must have support of subordinates

13. Bureaucratic behavior
Personal Attributes
Representative of American people
Upper level: middle aged white males
Tendency to be more liberal
Activist agency workers are more liberal (EPA)
30% in Defense
Less than 15% in welfare

14. Bureaucratic behavior
Legal Constraints
Freedom of Information Act
Hatch Act: limits political activity of Bureaucrats
Affirmative Action
Environmental Impact reports on projects

15. Services
Competitive Service – offices where one is appointed on the basis of merit, through test or credentials
Schedule C – jobs that have policy determining or confidential character below cabinet level – aide, special advisor
Expected – employees hired outside competitive service, NOT hired by OPM , CIA, FBI, Post office

16. Is It independent? Can seem independent Large Specialized expertise
VERY difficult to fire people in the bureaucracy
Agencies are independent
Congress and prez delegate authority to bureaucracy
They can’t handle everything, so you handle it
Discretionary authority – legislation lacks detail, so bur. can fill it in

17. Controlling the Bureaucracy
Presidential Influence
Appoint/ Fire top-level
Propose reorganization of exec. Branch
Propose Agency budgets
7000 senior appointments
Checks on Prez influence
Senate confirmation
Congress approves reorganization
Congress approves budgets

18. Controlling the Bureaucracy
Congressional Influences
Appropriations of agency budgets
Standing Committee oversight
Reorganization
Appointment confirmation
Sunset laws give agencies limited life
Checks on Congressional influence
Members benefit from agencies in state/district
Easier to have bur. work out details of laws
No legislative veto

19. Controlling the Bureaucracy
Interest Group Influence
Revolving door
Client groups
Iron Triangles (Congressional Comm, Relevant Agency, Interest Group)
Media Influence
Courts
Privatization of some aspects (Concessions in national parks)
Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review

21. NPR Found the bureaucracy was too centralized ALWAYS C.Y.A…
Too rule bound
Too little concern with making programs work
Too much concerned with scandal
ALWAYS C.Y.A…
Bureaucracy is tied to gov’t problems

22. Weberian Model Weber’s essential features of a bureaucracy:
Hierarchical Authority Structure
power flows from top down and responsibility from the bottom up
Task Specialization
Extensive Rules
Merit Principle
Impersonality

23. How would you evaluate the Bureaucracy?