2. The Invisible Government
The Bureaucracy
The Invisible Government

3. A large organization structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions to make it more efficient
Bureaucracy

4. The Weberian Model of Bureaucracy
The five characteristics of bureaucracy.
Hierarchy-pyramid
Formal rules (SOP)
Division of Labor
Maintenance of files
Professionalization
Maintenance of files and records
Freedom of Information Act (1974)
Goals-promote the “public good”, but how is that measured? This causes many people to believe the bureaucracy is wasteful.
Monopolistic Model—businesses with little to no competition and can therefore operate unchecked will little to no incentive to operate cost-effectively

5. Weberian model of bureaucracy
Standardization:
Ensures the retiree in Idaho is getting the same benefits as the retiree in New York
Expertise and competence:
Allows people to work for a period of time and become experts in that field allowing them to carry out laws and policies more effectively

6. Weberian model continued
Accountability
Allows Congress to follow up on money being earmarked for certain purposes, such as air pollution, and make sure was being spent effectively
Coordination
Allows agencies with cross purposes to work together on policy or goal, instead of working independently of each other
Weberian model continued

7. Image of Bureaucracy
People have a very negative image of government bureaucracy—Why?
Faceless
Nameless
“red tape”
(Compare the agent at the DMV to a cell phone customer service rep)
(What do we think of when we think of a fireman)
“…we expect bureaucracies not merely to expend maximum effort in solving societal problems but to dispose of them entirely, whether solvable or not.” Charles Goodsell

8. The Structure of American Bureaucracies
The Executive Office of the President—includes NSC, OMB, CEA
Cabinet Departments-15 departments directly responsible to President, but also responsible to their department
Workers below the secretaries are employees, and therefore permanent
Departments are collection of agencies
Independent Agencies-not part of Cabinet, report to President perform specialized functions
Independent Executive Agencies: perform specialized functions such as NASA, CIA, EPA
Independent Regulatory Agencies: make and implement rules and regulations to protect the public (appointed by President, but cannot be fired by him FED, SEC, FCC
Government Corporations-work off its profits, not funded by Congress (Post Office, TVA, FDIC, AMTRAK)
Other Bureaus
(When an agency is raised, it is symbolically important to show the governments commitment such as the Veterans’ administration)

9. Organization of the U.S. Government
No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan, 1964

10. Bureaucrats at Work

11. Department of Interior

12. National Intelligence bureaucracy post 9/11

13. Organization of Homeland Security Agencies after 9/11

14. The Merit System The spoils system The Pendleton Act Merit system and
Passed after Garfield assassination
Merit system and
the civil service
Hatch Act
Heads of departments are primarily appointed, and therefore temporary
The Merit System

15. Neutral Competence
The idea of neutral competence
Despite stereotypes, most government employees work efficiently and inexpensively.
Roughly 2.9 million people work for the government bureaucracy-2nd to Wal-Mart
The bureaucracy is largely staffed by people hired for their skills, not their political leanings.

16. Roles of the Bureaucracy
Rulemaking
The process of deciding what exactly the laws passed by Congress mean.
Adjudication
A process designed to establish whether a rule has been violated.
Bureaucratic Lobbying
bureaucrats identify the problems and limitations of existing laws and programs and recommend changes to the president and congressional committees.
Roles of the Bureaucracy

17. Functions of Bureaucracy
Policy Implementation
Making Policy-delegated legislative authority because what Congress passes is to vague to be effective
Regulation-establish standards and impose restrictions on violations of those standards
They must publish their rule-making procedures, hold open hearings on proposed rules and hear public input
Collecting Data and Doing Research
Provide Continuity-elected officials come and go, bureaucrats never leave which provides for continuity and professionalization and consistency; but also means change is slow and expensive

18. Original Cabinet: State, Treasury, War, Attorney General
Post-Civil War: Industrialization created new demands on government needing new organizations
Labor, Agriculture, Interior, Justice and regulatory agencies
The Great Depression: new agencies to handle New Deal
1960s and 1970s: agencies needed to protect Environment, fight poverty, promote civil rights, worker safety
HUD, Transportation, Energy, Education Departments, along with EPA, OSHA, EEOC
Despite its tremendous growth, many believe the bureaucracy is woefully undermanned in relation to the population and the demands placed on it
Growth of Bureaucracy

19. Controlling the Bureaucracy
Interest Groups and Individuals-interest groups want bureaucracies to adopt rules and enforcement practices they favor
Iron Triangle- influence committees
Pressure agency directly
Indirect influence-some commissioners come to their regulatory agencies from the industries they regulate
Individual citizens- “whistleblowers” can open their agencies to the public’s view (Civil Service Reform Act 1978)
Controlling the Bureaucracy

20. Controlling the Bureaucracy, cont.
Congress and the Bureaucracies
Oversight-often counteracted by iron triangles
Appropriations, creating or reorganizing
Legislative vetoes
The President and the Bureaucracies
Appointment and dismissal-many employees protected from president by seniority and merit
Budget process
Lobbying and mobilizing public opinion
The Judiciary and the Bureaucracies
Judicial review
Controlling the Bureaucracy, cont.

21. Privatization-Advantages and Disadvantages
Higher potential for corruption
Incentives to reduce quality
Reduced access to service for the disadvantaged
Resulting cost savings directed away from taxpayer
Decreases citizen participation
Accountability is difficult
Advantages
Less red tape and bureaucracy
More competition
Can obtain special skills
Improve service quality
Ideology-less government is better
More choices for people (school vouchers)
Better at saving money, innovating, communicating