1. Chapter 11 The Bureaucracy

2. What is a Bureaucracy?  A large organization structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions  Private bureaucracies exist within organizations like corporations Have a single set of leaders; serve shareholders; driven by profit motive  Public bureaucracies exist within organizations like governments Typically have multiple sets of leaders (Congress, president, etc.); serve citizens; driven by needs of citizens  Federal bureaucracy grounded in Article II, Sections 2 and 3  Why bureaucracy? Increasing complexity of society, economy; increasing demands for government responsiveness; Congress does not have time or expertise to oversee administration of all of its statutes; delegates to specialized agencies

3. Models of Bureaucracy  Weberian model = bureaucracy a response to increasing social complexity and demands Hierarchical Formal procedures Power flows from top down Advancement on merit Bureaucrats are specialists, professionals Decisions made based on logical reasoning and data analysis  Acquisitive model = top-level bureaucrats seek greater funding, staffs, and privileges to increase their power  Monopolistic model = bureaucracies are inefficient and costly; lack competition

4. Fed, State, Local employment Figure 11-1 © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

6. Fed agencies and civilian employees © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

7. Organization of the Federal Government  Cabinet Departments (15 departments of executive branch, aka executive departments)  Independent Executive Agencies (not part of cabinet department); report directly to president CIA, GSA, NSF, SBA, NASA, EPA  Independent Regulatory Agencies (outside major executive departments, which makes rules, regulations to protect public interest) Fed, FTC, SEC, FCC, NLRB, EEOC, FEC, NRC  Government Corporations (quasi-business enterprise) TVA, FDIC, Ex-Im Bank, Amtrak, Postal Service

10. Independent Executive Agencies © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

11. Independent Regulatory Agencies  Have legislative, executive, and judicial functions (make rules/laws, enforces them, and adjudicate disputes)  Members (cannot all be from same party) appointed by the president and approved by the Senate  Can only be removed by the president for just cause  Agency capture = direct or indirect control over agency by industry being regulated resulting in less competition, higher prices, and less consumer choice

12. Independent Regulatory Agencies © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

13. Government Corporations © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

14. Staffing the Bureaucracy  Two categories of bureaucrats = political appointees and civil servants  Political appointees (patronage) “Aristocracy” of the federal government Often just figureheads  Civil Service (permanent) Difficult to dismiss Typically less than.1% per year fired for incompetence

15. History of the Federal Civil Service  Jeffersonian “natural aristocracy”  Jacksonian Spoils system  Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 Professional/Merit system (appointments based on competitive exams) (now covers up to 90% of bureaucracy) Civil Service Commission  Hatch Act of 1939 Prohibited federal employees from participating in campaigns (amended by Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993)  Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

16. Modern Bureaucratic Reform  Sunshine laws (1976) – requires multihead federal agencies to conduct business in public session  Sunset laws – programs be reviewed and terminated if not effective  Privatization – government services replaced by private sector (e.g., prisons, schools, social security (?))  Incentives – maximizing efficiency and productivity for improved performance (e.g., Government Performance and Results Act (1997); “performance-based budgeting”)  Root of problem – decision-making process; public officials; challenges  e-government – improved efficiency and lowered costs  Helping whistle blowers – someone who blows the whistle on inefficiency or illegal action

17. Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policymakers  Enabling legislation – Congressional statute creating an agency, purpose, composition, functions, and powers grants agency discretion in carrying out and interpreting laws  Rules, regulations published in Federal Register, with a 60- day wait before implementation  Negotiated rulemaking (1990) – allows those affected by new rule, regulation to participate in rule-drafting process  Iron triangles – three-way alliance between legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to preserve, make policies that benefit their respective interests  Issue networks – group of individuals or organizations (legislators, staff, interest groups, bureaucrats, media, scholars, etc.) that supports a particular policy position

18. Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy  Power of the purse Authorizing funds Appropriating funds  Congressional investigations, hearings, and review (oversight) General Accounting Office Congressional Budget Office  Congressional Review Act (1996) – special procedure used to express Congressional disapproval of particular agencies actions

19. Discussion questions  Which model of bureaucracy is most persuasive (Weberian, acquisitive, monopolistic)?  What can be done to increase the efficiency and accountability of the bureaucracy?  Is agency capture a problem?  What can be done to decrease the negative effects of iron triangles and issue networks?

20. Hot Links to Selected Internet Resources:  Book’s Companion Site: http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com /schmidtbrief2004 http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com /schmidtbrief2004  Wadsworth’s Companion Site: http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com  First Gov: http://www.firstgov.govhttp://www.firstgov.gov  The Federal Web Locator: http://www.infoctr.edu/fwl http://www.infoctr.edu/fwl