The Federal Bureaucracy

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 ”

The Federal Bureaucracy

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Max Weber

Famous early 20 th century German economist Bureaucracy – well organized, complex machine that is a rational way for society to organize its business.

• • • • • • Hierarchical authority structure – chain of command Task specialization – individuals have unique jobs, division of labor Extensive rules – clear policies for the organization to follow Clear goals – clearly defined mission Merit principle – hiring and promotion based on qualities, no jobs for favors Impersonality – performance judged on productivity

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The Spoils System

Federal bureaucracy was originally drawn from an elite group of upper-class white males Proclaiming “to the victor belongs the spoils,” Andrew Jackson awarded federal posts to party loyalists---patronage

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The Civil Service

The Pendleton Act (1883) • created the federal civil service Civil Service system -- workers are selected according to merit, not party loyalty • • • The 0ffice of Personnel Management (OPM) Administers civil service laws and regulations Is in charge of hiring for most federal agencies • • •

Effects of Civil Service Reform

Govt. employees are much more competent Creating nonpartisan civil service means insulating workers from risk of being fired when new party comes into power; this means it’s pretty hard to fire anyone Hatch Act (1939 and 1993): employees are prohibited from active participation in partisan politics

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The Growth of The Federal Bureaucracy

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Science and technology

(NASA) is an example •

Business regulation

think -- The Jungle • •

Social welfare

Civil War (veteran pensions) • Great Depression income security and social services to Americans in need •

Ambitious administrators

top agency officials look for new ways to serve clients, which in turn leads to new programs, larger staffs, and larger budgets

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Constraints

Typical govt. bureau can’t hire, fire, build, or sell w/o going through statutory procedures Administrative Procedures Act (1946): agency must give notice, solicit feedback, hold hearing before adopting new rule/policy Freedom of Information Act (1966): agency must allow all citizens to inspect their records National Environmental Policy Act (1969): agencies must issue environ. impact statements Privacy Act (1974): keeps citizens’ records confidential Open Meeting Law (1976): all parts of all meetings must be open to public

• The federal bureaucracy includes all of the agencies, people, and • procedures through which the federal government operates There are approximately 2.7 million civilian and 1.4 million military federal employees Half of all the civilian federal employees work for the department of defense and an additional 28 percent work for the postal service

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Cabinet Departments

• There are 15 cabinet departments Exception of Justice (headed by the Attorney General), each department is headed by a secretary All 15 heads are chosen by the president and approved by the Senate Treasury Department has authority over the printing of currency Cabinet secretaries often develop a strong loyalty to • their departments Cabinet members are often not close presidential advisors

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Independent Regulatory Agencies

Created to protect the public by regulating key • sectors of the economy Best known independent regulatory agencies • Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) • Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Independent regulatory agencies are led by small commissions appointed by the president and • confirmed by the Senate Note commissioners cannot be removed by the Senate during their terms of office

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The Federal Reserve Board

Federal Reserve Board’s Primary responsibility is to set • monetary policy Monetary policy includes setting bank interest rates, controlling inflation, regulating the money supply, and adjusting bank reserve requirements • Federal Reserve Board has great independence This freedom removes monetary policy from • politics As a result, the Federal Reserve Board is usually able to use its economic expertise to develop monetary policies without undue interference from political parties and interest groups

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The Government Corporations

Government corporations provide a service that • could be provided by the private sector Best Known - • Corporation for Public Broadcasting- created • • • during the Johnson administration Tennessee Valley Authority- FDR Amtrak U.S. Postal Service

• Independent Executive Agencies Independent Executive Agencies include most of the non-cabinet departments • National Aeronautics • and Space Administration (NASA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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Implementation

Implementation is translation of policy goals into • rules and standard operating procedures Break down • conflicting goals • faulty program design • lack financial resources • • fragmentation of responsibilities 46 agencies for counterterrorism under the Office of Homeland Security (2001) Congress provides federal agencies with general • mandates Discretion to set specific guidelines for a given problem or situation

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Regulation

Regulation is the use of governmental authority to control or change practices in the private sector Supreme Court first upheld the right of government to regulate businesses in Munn v. Illinois (1877) Reagan / Bush federal government deregulated or lifted a number of restrictions • on business Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)

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Regulation v. Deregulation

Conservatives say: regulation has become too • • • burdensome, inhibits business, personal freedom Regulation raises prices!

Regulation hurts our competitiveness overseas!

Regulation doesn’t always work; gov’t can be dumb!

Liberals say: regulation is vital to prevent abuse, • corruption, public fraud There is often environmental damage due to deregulation

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Appointments

Presidents have power to appoint senior agency • heads and subheads Enables president to exercise influence over • an agency • President’s power limited Senate has power to approve president’s appointments Agency heads often develop a strong loyalty to their departments / do not aggressively purse a president’s policy agenda

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Executive Orders

Directive, order, or regulation issued by president •

Economic Powers

President may use Office of Management and Budget to cut or add to an agency’s budget •

Divided Authority

Divided supervision in which both president / Congress exercise authority over the federal bureaucracy

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Oversight

Congress responsibility to exercise legislative oversight over the federal bureaucracy • • • • Oversight methods: Budgetary control Holding hearings and conducting investigations Reorganizing an agency Setting new guidelines for an agency

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Iron Triangles

Alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee to make or preserve policies that benefit their • • respective interests Each member provides key services, information, or policy for the others Powerful enough to be called sub-governments

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Issue Networks

• • Coalition of interest groups and people who join together to advocate for a specific problem and for changing a government policy that pertains to that problem Alliances created through an issue network make it possible for people to join together on their issue to create change in government policies that pertain to that issue

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Issue Networks

Members of issue networks usually are political executives, government officials, public servants, scholarly analysts, reporters, members of foundations and White House staff members Need for different professions is essential for an issue network to function, because many types of expertise are needed to change existing policy