1. Policy Making
Bureaucracy

2. Why does the bureaucracy have policy making powers?
intro
Why does the bureaucracy have policy making powers?

3. Rule Making
Federal Bureaucracy

4. Bureaucracy Rule Making Congress
Congress is responsible for passing ALL policies – responsible for everything
They lack the time to adequately make policy for all policy areas
They are policy generalists – so they lack expertise on any single issue
They debate all policies they pass – the results end up being moderate compromises – not necessarily
the best policy outcome

5. Bureaucracy Rule Making Rule Making
Congress tends to delegate “rule making” authority to the bureaucracy
They have time because they only deal with one type of policy
They are policy specialists – so they have the necessary expertise to make details
They don’t have to debate with anyone. They aren’t accountable to the public.
They are experts and not politicians.

6. Agencies make the details of the policies
Bureaucracy
Rule Making
Rule Making
Agencies make the details of the policies
They know the best way to effectively implement the policies of Congress
A law from Congress may be vague – bureaucracy defines the specific details

7. Bureaucracy Rule Making Regulatory Agencies
EPA – set a specific pollution limit
FEC – decide which expenditures are campaign related & which are not
FCC – decide what the fines are for content violations
The Fed – determine the interest rates
NLRB – decide what info work places have to post for their employees

8. Bureaucracy Rule Making Cabinet Depts
State – requirements for passports
Defense – decide where to move troops
Treasury – decide which currency to make
Justice – set regulations for local law enforcements
Education – set the Common Core standards

9. Bureaucracy Rule Making Govt Corporations
USPS – decide prices of shipping, what can be shipped
Amtrak – decide which routes to operate and how often
UNICOR – decide which projects to use labor for

10. Administrative Discretion
Federal Bureaucracy

11. Bureaucracy Discretion Executive Branch
POTUS & Executive Branch are responsible for law enforcement
President issues directives about HOW to enforce specific laws
EX: prioritize marijuana enforcement OR don’t enforce marijuana law in CO.
The executive branch can’t effectively oversee the actions of “street level bureaucrats”

12. Bureaucracy Discretion Administrative Discretion
Means an “administrator” makes a choice about how to enforce
This can come from Cabinet heads or street level bureaucrats
This serves as a check by the bureaucracy on the president
The president can order enforcement of a law, but the civil servant can choose to enforce it differently

13. Bureaucracy Discretion Regulatory Agencies
FTC – ignores a case of false advertisement
FCC – decide not fine a TV station for language on a live broadcast
EPA – decide not to fine a company for pollution

14. Bureaucracy Discretion Cabinet Dept.
Education – teacher ignores Common Core
Homeland Security – TSA agent lets you take water on a flight
Justice – officials refuse to fire the Special Prosecutor in Russia Investigation

15. Bureaucracy Discretion Government Corporations
USPS – Postal worker accepts an overweight package
AMTRAK – train goes beyond the speed limit

16. Government by Proxy
Federal Bureaucracy

17. Bureaucracy Proxy Government by Proxy
The bureaucracy can pay private businesses to do their work
They can “contract out” services that would be the job of the government
Around 13 million people work for the government indirectly
This is what we refer to as “government contractors” - they work for a business that works for the government

18. Bureaucracy Proxy Advantages
More flexibility – the private companies aren’t held to the same rules
The govt can take advantage of private sector and nonprofit skill
Govt can save money when a private company can do the service for less $

19. Bureaucracy Proxy Disadvantages
It’s more difficult to keep track of how money is spent
Private businesses are typically profit driven – so they may cut costs
There is less oversight of the actions of private business than bureaucracy

20. Bureaucracy Proxy Military
The military regularly contracts with construction companies to build bridges or pipelines
Nearly half the troops in the 2003 War in Iraq were private employees, not US military soldiers
Most notable was Blackwater USA (now named Academi) provided security services to the US government - got in trouble for killing a lot of civilians

21. Bureaucracy Proxy Law Enforcement
Federal government and many states use private companies to run prisons
Corrections Corporation of America is the most notable private prison company
Around 13 million people work for the government indirectly
States outsource police actions like parking & red light enforcement

22. Controlling Bureaucracy
Federal Bureaucracy

23. Bureaucracy Control Independence
Most of the bureaucracy is designed to be nonpartisan
The roles it carries out are supposed to be outside of political concerns
Law enforcement, mail delivery, pollution controls, tax collection, etc.
Services are supposed to be delivered the same way whether Democrats or Republicans are in control
The bureaucracy is made up of experts instead of politicians

24. Reorganize the bureaucracy – request addition or removal of agencies
Control
POTUS
The president gets to pick the people that run the agencies – this impacts implementation
Executive orders are used to direct the bureaucracy to do certain things
The OMB (because of POTUS) can recommend increases or decreases in the agency’s budget
Reorganize the bureaucracy – request addition or removal of agencies

25. Bureaucracy Control Congress
In many cases Congress has to approve agency heads – so they influence the choice of the person in charge
Hold oversight hearings to make sure the agency is acting as directed
Congress can increase or decrease the agency’s budget
Pass laws that control what the agency does
Actually create or remove agencies if the president proposes it

26. Deregulation
Federal Bureaucracy

27. Bureaucracy Deregulation Deregulation
There are many regulations that impact all sectors of the economy
Government regulations do impact people’s ability to earn profits
Complying with government rules can add difficult or costly obstacles to business
Liberals typically are in favor of more government regulation of the economy
Conservatives typically want fewer regulations & want the market to govern the economy

28. Regulations can have unintended consequences
Bureaucracy
Deregulation
Arguments for
Regulations make production more expensive, so deregulation can lead to lower prices
Other countries don’t have the same regulations, so American businesses may become less competitive globally – deregulation makes them more competitive
Regulations can have unintended consequences

29. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

30. Administrative Discretion
Bureaucracy
Wrap Up
Rule Making
Administrative Discretion
Controls by President
Controls by Congress
Focus on these things: