1. The Political-Bureaucratic Interface Across the System
Centralized and Diffuse Accountability Across Government (Cont’d)
February 7th, 2006

2. The Centripetal Tendencies
top-down responsiveness
coherence
centralized political accountability
collective cabinet responsibility
political control (vs. impartiality)

3. Centripetal Organizational Responses
agents of central political control
PM and Prime Minister’s Office
Cabinet
Treasury Board
Minister of Finance

4. The Centre – The Political/Bureaucratic Interfaces
PM/Cabinet and PCO
Clerk of the Privy Council
political-bureaucratic interface in other central agencies
Minister of Finance and Department of Finance
President of the Treasury Board (cabinet committee) and the Treasury Board Secretariat

5. Channels of Central Political Control
outward at political level (then downward to bureaucratic level)
downward from political to bureaucratic level (then outward at bureaucratic level)
downward and outward from political level to bureaucratic level

6. Channels of Central Political Control
Prime Minister, PMO, Min.Finance, TBP
Ministers
Clerk of the Privy Council, PCO, TBS
Deputy Ministers

7. Channels of Bureaucratic Influence
DM influence over Ministers
from Minister to Cabinet
PCO influence over PM/Min. Finance/Treasury Board
from PM/Min. Fin./Treasury Board to Ministers
PCO influence over DM’s
-DM influence over ministers

8. Channels of Bureaucratic Influence
Prime Minister, PMO, Min.Finance, TBP
Ministers
Clerk of the Privy Council, PCO, TBS
Deputy Ministers

9. The Political-Bureaucratic System
Political Level
Bureaucratic Level

10. Implications of the Organizational Structure
various agencies (departments, agencies) which have radically different organizational purposes
line departments -- provide services/programs
central agencies – coordinate line departments
potential for conflict inherent in structure
central agency mandate for horizontal coordination reinforces centripetal tendencies
line department resistance reinforces centrifugal tendencies
these tendencies become institutionalized
even if the circumstances/concerns which give rise to these tendencies fade, the tendencies may persist

11. Implications of the Organizational Structure
centrifugal forces and centripetal forces exist at both bureaucratic and political levels
creates complex mix of incentives for various actors
creates potential for cross-level coalitions/alliances
contrasts with bureaucratic vs. political dichotomy

12. Implications of the Organizational Structure
political-bureaucratic interfaces exist at numerous sites
PM/PMO and PCO
central agency ministers and central agencies
PM and DMs
line departments ministers and DMs

13. Implications of the Organizational Structure
political-bureaucratic interfaces exist at numerous sites
creates potential for complex strategies of political control or bureaucratic influence
blockage of one line (political control or bureaucratic influence) does not mean that control/influence not exercised
more simplistic model highlighted democratic questions; reality is more complex
whether elected officials or public service officials dominate
whether the departments dominate or The Centre dominates