1. The Federal Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy is a system of organization and control that is based on three principles:
Hierarchical authority
Job specialization:
Formalized rules

2. Concluded bureaucratic efficiency is achieved at a high price.
Max Weber
Concluded bureaucratic efficiency is achieved at a high price.
It forces employees to behave as rational actors. In the process, they become insensitive to circumstance. “Specialist without spirit.”

3. 1. Bureaucracy is an inevitable consequence of complexity and scale
2. Bureaucrats naturally take an “agency point of view”, seeking to promote their agency’s program and power.
3. Although agencies are subject to oversight by the president, Congress, and the judiciary, bureaucrats exercise considerable power in their own right.

4. Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
1800: small 3,000 employees. Government’s role confined to defense and foreign affairs, currency and interstate commerce and delivery of mail.
Grew because of economic growth new demands.
1889 Department of Agriculture.
1903: Business and labor interests: Dept. of Commerce and Labor
Biggest growth 1930’s FDR New Deal
Federal employment has not changed much since 1960’s.

5. Types of Federal Agencies Five Forms
Cabinet (15 departments )
State oldest, Smallest 25,000 employees
Dept. of Defense Largest workforce 600,000 civilian employees, 1.4 million service members
Dept. of Health and Human Services. Largest budget accounts for ¼ of all federal spending on SS and Medicaid
Dept. of Homeland Security 2002

6. have narrow area of responsibility CIA, NASA
Independent Agencies
have narrow area of responsibility
CIA, NASA
Heads of these agencies are appointed by and report to president but are not cabinet

7. Regulatory agencies
Responsible for monitoring and regulation of ongoing economic activities.
SEC Securities and Exchange Commission
Environmental Protection agency EPA
They also have a legislative function and a judicial function. Develop law-like regulation and then judge whether individuals or organizations are complying with them.

8. . Government Corporations
similar to private corporation in that they charge for services but receive federal funding to help defray expenses.

9. Presidential commissions
provide advice to the president

10. Federal Employment 2.5 million full-time civilian employees
Merit system
Competitive exam
Office of Personnel Management and Merit Service protection Board
1883 Pendleton Act: established a merit system for certain positions.
%, Progressives championed %
Today 90%
Objective : Neutral competence

11. Large majority of federal employees have a GS ( Graded Service)
Regular civil serve rankings from GS-1 to GS-15
College grads state at GS-5 27,000, masters GS-9 40,000
Underpaid but fringe benefits

12. The Hatch Act of prohibits civil servants from holding key jobs in election campaigns. Congress has related this prohibition in although some are still barred from taking such positions.

13. Power of Federal Bureaucracy
Legislative: Agencies create the rules and regulation needed to perform their duties
Executive: Agencies enforce their rules, often after they have had the duty to create the rules
Judicial : Agencies rule on regulatory issues and can impose penalties and fines.

14. How Branches Control the Bureaucracy
Legislative: Controls the purse strings. (Budgets)
Creates new rules/restrictions and can eliminate an agency
Executive: Orders and direct agencies to follow presidential directives
Judicial: Agencies actions can be cut down,
Overturned and eliminated

15. Public Control over Bureaucracy
Lobby Congress
Lobby agency
Challenge agency in Court