1. Chapter Thirteen
the bureaucracy

2. Learning Outcomes
Define the concept of the bureaucracy and explain why such an organization is necessary.
Compare the structure and function of executive departments, executive agencies, independent regulatory agencies and government corporations.
Explain how individuals get positions in the federal bureaucracy and discuss the history of attempts to reform that process.
Describe the tools and powers that bureaucratic agencies have to shape policies and regulations.

3. The Nature of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy: a large organization structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions
Procedural rules
Handles complex issues
Divided according to specialization and expertise of employees

4. The Nature of Bureaucracy
Public Bureaucracies
Multiple groups of leaders
Formed to serve citizens
Not organized to make profit
Private Bureaucracies
Have single set of leaders
Organized to make profit
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5. The Nature of Bureaucracy
Models of bureaucracy
Weberian model
Organized hierarchically
Formal procedures
Power flows top to bottom
Rules and logical reasoning
Merit advancement

6. The Nature of Bureaucracy
Models of bureaucracy (continued)
Acquisitive model
Expansion is goal
Size = power
Monopolistic model
No competition
No reason to be efficient or productive

7. The Nature of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracies compared (U.S. to other industrialized nations)
U.S. federal bureaucracy has significant autonomy
Lines of authority not well defined
Federalism means national bureaucracies provide $ to state bureaucracy counterparts
U.S. government owns few enterprises, but administrative agencies regulate private companies

8. The Size of the Bureaucracy
Federal bureaucracy about 2.7 million government employees (without military)
Stable at federal level
Significant private contractors growth
Since 1970, state and local government growth
Government spending = 40% of GDP

9. Federal Agencies and Their Respective Numbers of Civilian Employees
Figure 13-1
(U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Employment Statistics, Table 14)

10. Government Employment at the Federal, State and Local Levels
Figure 13-2
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006)

11. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Executive branch
Cabinet departments
Independent executive agencies
Independent regulatory agencies
Government corporations

12. Organization Chart of the Federal Government
Figure 13-3
(Source: United States Government Manual, (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007))

13. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Cabinet Departments
Accountable to president
Performs major government functions
Top officials are political appointees
State
Treasury
Interior
Justice
Agriculture
Commerce
Labor
Defense
Housing & Urban Development
Transportation
Energy
Health & Human Services
Education
Veterans Affairs
Homeland Security
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14. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Independent executive agencies
Reports directly to president
Examples: Environmental Protection Agency; CIA
Independent regulatory agencies
Develops rules/regulations to protect public interest
Agency capture
Deregulation and reregulation
Examples: Nuclear Regulatory Commission; FCC

15. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Government corporations
Businesses created by Congress to perform public functions
Not organized to make a profit
Examples: U.S. Postal Service; AMTRAK

16. Challenges to the Bureaucracy
Overlapping jurisdictions
Reorganizing to stop terrorism
Department of Homeland Security
Dealing with natural disasters
FEMA
National Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard patrols the waters of Boston harbor in preparation for the 2004 Democratic convention. Since September 11, 2001, such precautions have become normal in the Untied States. (William B. Plowman/Reuters/CORBIS)
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17. Staffing the Bureaucracy
Political appointees
Aristocracy of federal government
But intense screening process
Confirmations required
Average term under two years
Difficult to fire civil servants
Lengthy appeals process
Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a joint press conference with her British counterpart, William Hague, at the State Department building in Washington, D.C. (AFP PHOTO/Mandel/Newscom)
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18. Staffing the Bureaucracy
History of the federal civil service
Spoils system
Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 (Pendleton Act)
Civil Service Commission
Merit system
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Office of Personnel Management
Merit Systems Protection Board
Hatch Act (1939)

19. Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform
Sunshine laws
Information disclosure
Curbs on information disclosure since 9/11
Sunset laws
First suggested as part of New Deal
Sunset legislation
Mostly applied at state level

20. Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform
Privatization
Incentives for efficiency/productivity
Most successful at local level
Government Performance and Results Act
E-Government
An armed nuclear security officer patrols the coastal area of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant on May 5, 2004, in Avila Beach, California. Since September 11, all American utilities have increased the security at their facilities. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

21. Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform
Helping out whistleblowers
1978 Civil Service Reform Act
Anonymous hotlines
Whistle-Blower Protection Act
Monetary rewards as incentive

22. Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policymakers
Power delegated to agencies by Congress as enabling legislation
Agencies must interpret Congress’ wishes
Formulate rules/regulations
Rule-making environment
Waiting periods
Court challenges
Controversies

23. Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policymakers
Negotiated rule making
Business and public-interest groups encouraged to become directly involved
Participants agree to no court challenges
Bureaucrats are policymakers
Iron triangles
Issue networks

24. Iron Triangle
Figure 13-4

25. Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy
Ways Congress does control bureaucracy
Passes enabling legislation
Controls funding
Conducts hearings and investigations
Government Accountability Office
Congressional Budget Office

26. Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy
Reasons why Congress cannot easily oversee bureaucracy
“Police patrol” approach (regular review)
“Fire alarm” approach (reaction to events)

27. FOIA Request
The Department of Homeland Security web site provides guidance on making an FOIA request. Visit editorial_0316.shtm.