3. The Bureaucrats
A bureaucrat is someone who works for the government, carrying out policy.
Civil Servant: permanent employee of the government
Most demographically representative part of government.
Diversity of jobs mirrors the private sector.
President only appoints 3%

4. Who are the “Bureaucrats?”
97% are career government employees
Only 10% live in the D.C. area
30% work for the D.O.D.
Less than 15% work for social welfare agencies
Most are white collar workers: secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers
Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congress

5. The Bureaucrats The Plum Book Published by Congress.
Lists the very top jobs available for Presidential appointment.
Presidents work to find capable people to fill the positions.
Some plum jobs (ambassadorships) are patronage.

6. The Weberian Model Hierarchical authority structure
Uses task specialization
Operate on the merit principle
Behave with impersonality
A well-organized machine with lots of working parts.

7. Four Categories of Bureaucracy
The Cabinet Departments
15 Cabinet departments
14 headed by a secretary
Department of Justice headed by Attorney General
Each has its own budget, staff and policy areas
Republicans have been trying to eliminate several departments

8. Four Categories of Bureaucracies
Regulatory Agencies
Independent: Responsible for some sector of the economy making rules and judging disputes to protect the public interest.
Headed by a commission of people.
Rule making is an important function watched by interest groups and citizens alike.
EPA, SEC

9. Four Categories of Bureaucracies
Government Corporations
Business like- provide a service like private companies and typically charges for its services
Postal Service, Amtrak are examples
Independent Executive Agencies
The agencies that don’t fit anywhere else
NASA is an example

10. Implementation
Translating the goals and objectives of a law passed by Congress into an operating, ongoing program.
It includes:
Creating / assigning an agency the policy
Turning policy into regulations.
Coordinating resources to achieve the goals.
Getting feedback and revising regulations.

11. Why Policies Succeed A Case Study: The Voting Rights Act of 1965
Had a clear, concise goal (increase registration and turnout rates among African Americans).
The implementation was clear (send Federal Marshals to the South).
Those carrying out the law had obvious authority and vigor to do so.

12. Criticism of Bureaucracy
I. RED TAPE
too many rigid procedures
too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstances
too many forms to fill out, lines to wait
II. INEFFICIENCY
lack of incentive to be productive
III. DUPLICATION OF SERVICES
bureaucracy is so complicated
agencies are performing similar or sometimes the same functions
(Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps with Dept. of Interior, etc.)
federalism makes this more complicated--many services are provided at both the state and national levels.

13. Criticisms Continued IV. BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKER
regulations end up having the effect of law.
duty of implementing laws often allows bureaucrats to interpret those laws.
V. BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIG
privatization would be more effective
VI. BUREAUCRACY MAY BE CORRUPT
iron triangle -the relationship between the Executive branch, Congress, and interest groups can lead to policy- making decisions which benefit private interests at the expense of the public good.

14. Understanding Bureaucracies
Bureaucracy and Democracy
Iron Triangles and Issue Networks
A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees.
Exist independently of each other.
They are tough, but not impossible, to eliminate
Some argue they are being replaced by wider issue networks that focus on more policies.

15. Iron Triangle