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Bureaucracy
Carter’s Mouse
General characteristics of the bureaucracy
Goals: careerism, long term, pro-government, loyalty to
the agency rather than president.
Internal warfare
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foreign policy: State Dept., NSC, Pentagon, CIA, Arms
Control and Disarmament, etc. Ag. Dept. vs. FDA on
“beneficial bugs.”
makes it tough for the president to lead.
Problems with the CDC and FBI in the anthrax scare.
FBI vs. CIA in war on terror. CIA and Pentagon in war
with Iraq.
Characteristics of the Bur.
Internal structure, status quo bias
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hierarchy, SOPs, incrementalism, “muddling
through.”
Types of bureaucracy.
Cabinet level agencies (State, Treasury, Agriculture,
Education, etc.). 15 of these.
Independent agencies, NLRB, Federal Reserve, CIA,
FDA, FEC, Peace Corps, etc. About 60 of these.
Federal corporations: U.S. Postal Service, FDIC,
Export-Import Bank.
Control of the Bureaucracy
Inter-branch tensions: the bureaucracy is
subject to two masters.
Constitutions dictates the rivalry. Congress given
“all legislative powers,” president has to “take
care that the laws are faithfully executed.”
Morris Fiorina: mismatch of incentives and
capabilities. President has the incentive to
control the bureaucracy, but not the ability.
Congress has the ability, but not the incentive.
Presidential Control of Bur.
Constitutional foundations. Difference between
our system and a parliamentary system
(Campbell article).
Historical evolution -- Presidential control of
the bureaucracy is relatively recent. “Iron
law of emulation” -- Congress and the
president respond to each other.
Techniques of Presidential Control
Frontal assault: appointments, management, and
reorganization. Reagan and Labor, EPA, and Interior
Dept. Bush and NASA (global warming), EPA, NSF,
the Justice Department (controversy over the U.S.
attorneys). Articles on the surgeon general –
politics over science.
End run: avoid the bureaucracy. Centralize authority
in the White House. Dangers of this approach. Iran
Contra: State Dept. was “out of the loop.” Planning
on SDI and the war in Iraq.
Control of the Bur., cont.
Controversy over the creation of the new cabinet level
agency on Homeland Security. Turf battles and labor
issues.
Terry Moe’s argument from the week on rational choice:
structures, incentives, resources. Create institutional
structures to minimize long-term harm, so the president
will want to politicize the bureaucracy and centralize
authority in the White House.
Delegation is another alternative, but this can backfire –
Dubai ports deal last year.
Bureaucracy
Reform
Reorganization -- this is a direct way to give the
president more control over important topics.
Deregulation – more power to the free marker.
Citizen participation – public hearings, comment
periods. Current debate over FCC and media
ownership.
Analytical budgeting and OMB oversight.
Party government – more ability to get things done if
you are all on the same page.
Reinventing government -- Clinton/Gore initiative in the
late 1990s.
Growth of the White House Staff
Number of Employees
700
GHWB
RWR
GWB
Ford
JEC WJC
RMN
600
500
DDE
400
300
200
JFK/LBJ
HST
100 FDR
0
Presidential Administration
Number of
Employees in the
White House