Introduction to Public Bureaucracy 1 Lecture 9 The American government and Public Bureaucracy

2 How to View the American Federal System Traditional way: Layer cake—compartmentalized functions Marble cake—division of functions intricately mixed Kettl/Fesler (2005): neither layer nor marble, rather, different levels of government concentrating on different services How do you view the system of the American government?

3 The Federal Government Federal government concentrates spending in far fewer categories Huge increase in entitlement program spending (on programs such as Medicare, to which individuals are “entitled” by law) over last four decades Huge decrease in defense spending over the last four decades Entitlements, defense, and interest on the national debt = 85% of federal spending

4 Figure 3 Source: OMB Historical Tables: Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2004

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6 The Executive Branch What does it do? -Organization in executive branch affects outcome of policies and executes public polices. Led by the chief executive and checked by the other branches of government Components - Cabinet departments - Independent agencies -Bureaus - Field offices - Executive Office and White House

7 Cabinet Department Cabinet: from 16th century, when English king began meeting with closest advisers in a cabinet, or small room Fifteen cabinet departments, including Department of Homeland Security (established in 2002) 90% of executive branch’s civilian employees and 80% of all spending – Defense has largest number of employees – Education is the smallest dept. – Health and Human Services spends the most

8 Independent Agencies Independent agencies: outside cabinet departments, account for one-tenth of federal government’s employees and one-fifth of its spending – Largest: Social Security Administration became independent agency Why are they independently established? – Created by Congress to insulate from presidential control

9 Independent Agencies (continued) Regulatory commissions: one method of power in which agencies can monitor major features of transportation, communications, power production and distribution, banking, etc. Service-based independent agencies: special historical condition for particular mission Government corporations: type of independent agency engaged in lending, insurance, and other business-type operations – e.g., Corporation for Public Broadcasting, FDIC

10 Bureaus and Field Offices Bureaus: principal operating organizations of the government; cover many organizations within larger departments – e.g., Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Internal Revenue Service Bureaucracy is government by bureaus – Many at state and local levels Most government operations, including bulk of federal operations, done in the field Thousands of field offices in states and overseas

11 Office of Management and Budget Bureau of Budget established in 1921 in Treasury Department; became part of EOP in 1939 Office of Management and Budget (OMB): renamed by President Nixon in 1970; largest unit of EOP; annually reviews all agencies’ spending proposals What does it do? -Communicate the policy agenda of the year to the executive branch departments -Analyzes proposals and makes recommendations to president with professional expertise -Compiles requests into budget for Congress

12 Rise of E-government New approach to government organization via computers IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically – ex. From 2003 to 2004, e-filing increased by 15%. Pro -Potential to improve government services and save resources -Citizens connect more easily to government Con -Questions of accessibility and equity -Organizational questions such as security and privacy

13 State Governments Unlike federal spending, state spending patterns have remained relatively constant. States concentrate their services on welfare, higher education, and highways. States play a major banking role by receiving federal grants and administering them.

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15 Local Governments In 2002, there were more than 86,000 local governments. Unlike other levels of government, local government is singularly devoted to the direct delivery of services (services provided directly to citizens, such as police and fire protection, education, and hospital care). Primary spending is on elementary and secondary education, health, hospitals, welfare, and utilities.

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17 American Civil Service Systems Civil service system Employment system used by democratic governments to minimize political tinkering with the administrative process The basic principles of civil service systems  Hired by merit  Paid according to position (“equal work for equal job”)  Protected from political interference and dismissal  Obligated to accountability

18 Civil Service Reform Spoils system -Hiring and firing on the basis of political loyalty and active support for the party or candidate The 1883 Pendleton Act - Federal Reform and Merit system -The desire to hire the most competent workers or to keep partisan politics out of hiring process

19 Personnel Merit Selection Three principles 1) Open competitive examinations, 2) Relative security of tenure, 3) Protection from political pressures for the federal bureaucracy What would be advantages of the merit system? -More systematic and rational distribution of offices with political neutrality -Remedies for the political corruption -Technical expertise

20 Fundamental Elements of the Civil Service System Position classification Each position is identified in terms of the special knowledge the job requires, its level of difficulty, and the responsibilities that come with it. (ex) GS system Staffing Compensation

21 Position Classification in the Civil Service Positions are defined according to occupation, degree of difficulty, and responsibility. General Schedule (GS level) that governs most employees includes 15 grades. The system attempts to prevent political interference in the hiring process.

22 Compensation in the Civil Service Lower federal pay than what employees would earn in similar private-sector jobs Generous fringe benefits Civil service principle and comparable worth -Individuals should receive equal pay for jobs of comparable value

23 Employee Rights and Obligations Unionization: 41% of government employees at the federal, state, and local levels are covered by unions; rise in unionization of public employees Collective bargaining: used to determine conditions of employment; has increased in the public sector; Strikes are illegal for public employees.