1. Bureaucracy

2. Bureaucracy
A hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality
American bureaucracy is unique in that it is controlled by both the president and Congress

3. Bureaucracy
Bureaucrats shape policy as administrators, implementers, and as regulators
They serve to do two things:
1. Policy implementers, translating legislative policy goals into programs
2. Regulators, Congress gives them much power (discretionary authority) to develop rules and regulation
Munn v. Illinois (1877) – SC upheld that government had the right to regulate business rates and services

4. Evolution of Bureaucracy
Spoils System
Andrew Jackson
Patronage: hiring and promotion system based on political reasons rather than on merit or competence
Pendleton Act 1883
Created the civil service and a merit system for appointing federal offices
Hatch Act 1939
Federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics
Revised in 1993 to be less restrictive

5. Cont. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal govt.
General Schedule Rating (GS)
A schedule for federal employees, ranging from GS1 to GS18, by which salaries can be keyed to rating and experience
Plum Book
Book that lists top federal jobs available for direct presidential appointment, with Senate confirmation

6. 4 Types Cabinet Departments Independent regulatory commissions
Government corporations
Independent executive agencies

7. Departments
15 Departments headed by secretary (except the Dept. of Justice which is headed by the attorney general)
Inner Circle
Chosen by pres. and confirmed by Senate
Each dept. manages specific policy areas and has its own budget and staff
Each dept. further broken down into smaller units known as bureaus, offices, or services
FBI (Dept. of Justice), IRS (Dept. of Treasury), INS (Dept. of Homeland Security)

8. Independent Regulatory Commissions
Agency responsible for some sector of the economy, making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest (watchdogs)
Governed by a small commission that are appointed by president and confirmed by Senate
More insulated (independent) from politics and thus less responsive to the president and Congress
Presidents cannot fire these people without “just cause” as he can with cabinet and/or WHO

9. Independent Regulatory Commissions
FRB (Federal Reserve Board): governing banks and regulating the supply of money and interest rates
EPA
FCC
FTC (Federal Trade Commission): regulating business practices and controlling monopolistic behavior
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): polices the stock market

10. Government Corporations
Hybrid organization that is a cross btwn govt. agency and private business
Provide a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically charges for its services
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, PBS

11. Independent Executive Agencies
All the rest of govt.
Administrators are appointed by the president and serve at his will
NASA, General Services Administration (GSA), CIA

12. Presidential Control of Bureaucracy
Appointment process
Issue executive orders
These carry the force of law and are used to implement statutes, treaties, and provisions of the Constitution
Alter an agencies budget
OMB threatens to cut or add to agencies, although Congress does the appropriating
Reorganize an agency

13. Congressional Control of Bureaucracy (Legislative Oversight)
No agency can exist without congressional approval
Influence of the appointment process
Alter an agency’s budget
Power of the purse—Congressional authorization and appropriation
Hold hearings/investigations
Bring attention to agency abuses
Rewrite legislation or make it more detailed
Limits bureaucratic discretion

14. Iron Triangles
A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
A subgovernment that dominates some areas of domestic policy

15. Iron Triangles

16. 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 legislator policy and interest group goals.

17. 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?

19. 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

20. 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) that debates an issue and slows policy-making
Policy-making is not as smooth with competing demands from IGs
President can appoint an agency head who steers policy, but can never smoothly control policy

21. Criticisms of Bureaucracy
Red tape: Too many complex rules and procedures must be followed to get something done
Conflict: Some agencies seem to be working at cross-purposes with other agencies
Duplication: Two govt. agencies seem to be doing the same thing
Imperialism: Agencies tend to grow without regard to the benefits that their program confer or the costs that they entail
Waste: Agencies spend more than is necessary to buy some products and services
Lack of Accountability: difficult to fire or demote an incompetent bureaucrat