1. The Federal Bureaucracy
Chapter 14

2. The Bureaucracy Hierarchical power structure Power flows down
Bureaucracy – structure which uses
Hierarchical power structure
Power flows down
Responsibility flows up
Task specialization

3. The Bureaucracy Merit principle Hiring by ability
Bureaucracy – structure which uses
Merit principle
Hiring by ability
Advancement by actions
Impersonality
Keeps everyone on a level playing field

4. The Bureaucrats Myths Americans dislike bureaucrats
We like the bureaucrats we come in contact with
We dislike “bureaucracy”
Bureaucracies are getting bigger every year
Federal bureaucracies are not
State and local bureaucracies are

5. The Bureaucrats Myths Most bureaucrats are in Washington DC  FALSE
They are ineffective
Inefficient
Bound by red tape
Most tasks carried out by governments are non- controversial  TRUE

6. The Bureaucrats Civil Servants Demographics
Representative of the general population
Also mirrors diversity within the private- sector

7. The Bureaucrats Civil Servants Patronage Who you know Hiring Promotion
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Spurred on by assassination of President Garfield
Established merit system

8. The Bureaucrats Civil Servants Patronage Hatch Act Prohibits political
activity by civil servants while on duty
Allows most civil servants to engage in
political activity during own time

9. The Bureaucrats Hiring Office of Personnel Management
In charge of hiring
Applicants
Take a test
Names sent to agencies which might employ them

10. The Bureaucrats Hiring Office of Personnel Management Pay GS scale
Pay rating
Super GS
Top of the top
Senior Executive Service

11. The Bureaucrats Hiring Office of Personnel Management Protection
After tenure
Protects career civil servants from political swings

12. The Bureaucrats Political Appointees President appointees
Executive talent
Political skills
Favors presidential policy positions

13. The Bureaucrats Political Appointees Often transient
Depend on career bureaucrats
They know more
They’ve been there longer and will remain after
Studies show they don’t hinder presidential programs

14. The Bureaucrats How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized
Cabinet Departments
15 departments
Headed by secretaries
(except DOJ  Attorney General)
Nominated by president
Confirmed by Senate
Differences
Manages own policy area
Own budget
Own staff

15. The Bureaucrats How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Protect the public interest
Governed by commissioners
Nominated by president
Confirmed by Senate

16. The Bureaucrats How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Cannot be fired except for “just cause”
Agency capture
Interest groups
Woo members of agency
Exert extreme influence on regulations

17. The Bureaucrats How the Federal Bureaucracy is Organized
Government Corporations
Provide service that private sector could provide
Cheaper than private sector
Examples
Post office
Amtrak