1. Bureaucracy

2. Bureaucracy
Large, complex organization of appointed, not elected, officials.
“bureau” – French for small desks, referring to the king’s traveling business men who set up small desks in town squares
Bureaucracy = “government of small desks”

3. Max Weber Famous early 20th century economist, German
Bureaucracy – well organized, complex machine that is a “rational” way for society to organize its business

4. Weber Characteristics
Hierarchical authority structure – chain of command
Task specialization – individuals have unique jobs, division of labor
Extensive rules – clear policies for the organization to follow
Clear goals – clearly defined mission

5. Weber
Merit principle – hiring and promotion based on qualities, no jobs for favors
Impersonality – performance judged on productivity

6. Weber Quotes
“Precision, speed, unambiguity, knowledge of files, continuity, discretion, unity, strict subordination, reduction of friction and of material and personal costs - these are raised to the optimum point in the strictly bureaucratic administration.” – Max Weber
“Only by strict specialization can the scientific worker become fully conscious, for once and perhaps never again in his lifetime, that he has achieved something that will endure. A really definitive and good accomplishment is today always a specialized act.” – Max Weber

7. Modern Bureaucracy
– New Deal, WWII, increase in programs and gov’t work
1950’s – 1970’s – 90% of all federal employees were chosen on merit
Salaries also chosen on merit

8. Who are bureaucrats?
Approximately 1 out of 100 Americans work for the federal government bureaucracy
A few examples
US Postal Service
EPA
IRS
Amtrak
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Interstate Commerce Commission
Federal Trade Commission
Securities and Exchange Commission
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
US Military

9. What do bureaucrats do?
Discretionary action – have the power to execute laws and policies passed down by the president or congress – they make laws happen.
Implementation – develop procedures and rules for reaching the goal of a new policy – they decide what or how the law will happen.
Regulation – check or oversee private or corporate business activity
Munn v. Illinois (1877) – SCOTUS upheld that government had the right to regulate business rates and services if it was for the “greater good”
ADA compliancy – is your building handicapped accessible?

10. Accountability
Bureaucracy is constrained and controlled by the US government numerous ways
Congress
appropriates money (approves it), authorizes the spending of money (spends it), oversees agency activity (investigates them and holds them accountable), advice and consent of presidential appointees (approves nominations)
President
Job appointments (WH staff– no senate approval; outside WH – senate approval), executive orders, budget control, reorganize agencies (Bush-Homeland Security)

11. Iron Triangles
CONGRESS
INTEREST GROUPS
BUREAUCRACY
Iron Triangle - three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests

12. Iron Triangles

13. How it works? Everyone in the triangle has a similar interest
Legislators get funding from interest groups and make laws reality with the help of the bureaucracy
Interest groups provide valued information to bureaucrats and money to legislators
Bureau chiefs implement legislative policy and interest group goals

14. Why are they “iron”?
Strong – bond can’t be broken by President or Congress
Referred to as “sub governments,” all the real decisions are made among these 3 groups
Might maintain interests that might not be publicly popular… like what?

15. Example – Why is tobacco not illegal?
House and Senate agricultural subcommittees
Tobacco farmer interest groups (tobacco lobby)
Department of Agriculture
House and Senate representatives, sympathetic to tobacco, receive campaign funds and support from tobacco by interest groups, and the representatives make sure that tobacco farmers are defended through legislation. DOA agency executes the legislation while relying on the Congressional budget. The interest groups provide the DOA with valuable information to effectively execute laws.
-COMMON INTEREST – Keep tobacco alive = keep their jobs alive

16. Other Iron Triangle Example

17. Issue Network More complicated connection exists
Iron triangle too simple – there are IGs from opposite sides of an issue who compete
Issue Network – complex group (includes media and university/research institutions) that debates an issue and slows policy-making
Policy-making is not as smooth with competing demands from IG’s (EX: pro vs. anti tobacco)
President can appoint an agency head who steers policy, but can never smoothly control policy – think Pluralist theory here

18. Controlling the Bureaucracy
Patronage - Rewarding supporters with jobs
“Spoils system” – created by Andrew Jackson, each President turned over the bureaucracy
Pendleton Act (1883) - Created in response to criticism of patronage, more jobs will be selected based on merit (Garfield Assassination)
Hatch Act (1939) – agency employees can’t participate in political activities (elections, campaigns, fund raisers, etc.)
Softened in recent decades, 1st Amendment issues

19. Criticism of Bureaucracy
“Red tape” – maze of gov. rules, regulations, and paperwork that makes gov. overwhelming to citizens
Conflict – agencies that often work toward opposite goals (EPA vs. Department of Energy; FDA vs. Dept. of Ag./tobacco farmers)
Duplication – multiple agencies appear to do the same thing (farm raised salmon vs. wild caught salmon)
Unchecked growth – agencies expand unnecessarily at high costs
Waste – spending more than necessary (lots of September end of fiscal year expenditures – use $ or lose it)
Lack of accountability – difficult in firing an incompetent bureaucrat
Contradictory hiring practices – Affirmative Action promotes the hiring and promotion of people based on race/gender AND talent. Civil service system is solely based on merit/talent.

20. One view of bureaucracy…

21. Another view…

22. And another…