To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions American Government: Roots and Reform, 10th edition Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato Pearson Education, 2009 Chapter 9 The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy
The Roots of Bureaucracy Foreign Affairs, War, Treasury first departments, AND Office of Attorney General(legal advisor) Growth in early 1800s with Post Office due to westward expansion – Major source of jobs Patronage and the spoils system become common (What is the key difference?) Civil War spawns another expansion due to food distribution problems – Department of Agriculture is created (1889)
Pendleton Act (1883) is beginning of civil service system in response to massive turnover when a new president was elected. Also known as merit system. Initiated by Garfield before assassination Unfair business practices leads to creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) First independent regulatory commission. Railroad companies charging exorbinant rates for freight Marks shift from service to regulatory bureaucracy ons
Twentieth-Century Bureaucracy Growing number of cabinet departments. Dept. of Commerce and Labor to oversee employer/employee relationships Divided into two separate depts by Wilson Addressed problems associated with monopolies and poor working conditions of employees Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protect small business and public from monopolistic corporations. 16 th Amendment to support new federal agencies with funds
Need for a larger government to support wars. Need for a larger government to support wars Increase in manufacturing Tax increases (have never fallen back to pre-war levels) Veteran’s demands for services led to bigger government (GI Bill - Educational loans and low mortgage rates FHA loans) Led to specifications in new home construction Affordable middle-class housing was a new concept New Deal and Great Society (LBJ and FDR) Focus on Pressing Social Problems Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Department of Transportation Department of Housing and Urban Development
Modern Bureaucracy More than 2.7 million employees.More than 2.7 million employees Most are selected based on merit. Also have high-level appointees. Wide variety of skills represented. Less diverse than America.Less diverse than America Scattered throughout D.C. and regional offices.regional offices Growth of outside contractors.
Formal Organization Cabinet departments handle broad, lasting issues. Headed by secretaries. Government corporations act like businesses. Independent executive agencies handle services. Narrower than Cabinet department, independent. Independent regulatory commissions watch industry. Designed to be free from partisan pressure.
Government Workers and Politics Hatch Act sets first boundaries. Federal Employees Political Act is current standard.Federal Employees Political Act
Characteristics of Bureaucracy Chain of command from top to bottom. Division of labor. Clear lines of authority. Goal orientation. Merit system. Productivity.
How the Bureaucracy Works Congress creates agencies. Main job is implementation of laws. Policy made in iron triangles or issue networks.iron triangles Increasing use of interagency councils.
Making Policy Administrative discretion allows a lot of latitude. Rule-making is a quasi-legislative process. Formal procedure for making regulations. Administrative adjudication is quasi-judicial process. Used to settle disputes between two parties.
Agency Accountability Unclear who agencies should be accountable to. Presidents try to make the right appointments. Can also shape policy through executive orders. Congress can use oversight powers and funding. Police patrol v. fire alarm oversight. Judiciary can review regulations.
AV- Growth of Government Back
Figure 9.1- Civilian Employment Back
Figure 9.2- Employee Characteristics Back
Figure 9.3- Agency Regions Back
Figure 9.4- The Executive Branch Back
Figure 9.5- An Iron Triangle Back
Figure 9.6- Rulemaking Back
Table 9.1- FEPA Back
Table 9.2- Agency Accountability Back