1. Aim: What are the characteristics of the federal bureaucracy?

2. 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 Weber lamented the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy He also believed it had rational advantages

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

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

9. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=73563 43nhttp://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=73563 43n http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/01/01gre enwire-gao-audit-hits-agencies-for- uncoordinated-ineff-2671.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/01/01gre enwire-gao-audit-hits-agencies-for- uncoordinated-ineff-2671.html http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/36131620# 36131620http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/36131620# 36131620

10. Criticism of Bureaucracy – pathologies “Red tape” – maze of gov rules, regulations, and paperwork that makes access to government overwhelming to citizens Conflict – agencies that often work toward opposite goals Duplication – agencies appear to do the same thing Unchecked growth (Imperialism) – agencies expand unnecessarily at high costs Waste – spending more than necessary Lack of accountability – difficulty in firing an incompetent bureaucrat

11. http://www.cc.com/video- clips/fqqyi0/futurama-bureaucrat-s-songhttp://www.cc.com/video- clips/fqqyi0/futurama-bureaucrat-s-song How do people perceive bureaucracy based upon the lyrics to this song?