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***BUREAUCRACY***A large, complex organization of appointed officials.
ELEMENTS OF THE BUREAUCRACYCABINET (Partisan)VP + heads (Secretaries) of 15 major executive agencies/executive departments
EX: State, Defense, Agriculture, TreasurySecretaries often receive appointments due to expertise and reward for political loyalty
EXECUTIVE OFFICE (Partisan)-Agencies of the ExBr that report directly to POTUS
• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) • National Security Council• Council of Economic Advisors
***RULE OF PROPINQUITY***Whomever is in the room when the decision is made has the most power.
The closer your office it the Oval Office, the more influence you have over POTUS
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES (Bipartisan)Agencies outside of the cabinet and the Executive OfficeEX: Federal Reserve, CIA, NASA, FEC
INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCIES Same as above but with the specific task of regulating human activityEX: EPA
***GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONSBusiness-like organizations created by Congress to perform a service.EX: USPS, Amtrak, FDIC
SHARED POWERSThe executive and legislative branches share control over the
bureaucracy.
PRESIDENTIAL CONTROL POTUS may appoint and fire members of the cabinet and the
executive office
POTUS may appoint but may not fire commissioners and chairpersons of independent agencies
CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL
Creates agencies to deal with specific policies/issues via legislation
Senate confirms presidential appointees
Impeachment
***APPROPRIATIONS: funds for the agency to spend on specific programs.***OVERSIGHT***: Power to investigate the actions of the
bureaucracy via committee
BUREAUCRATIC POWER***DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY: The ability of bureaucrats to shape how laws are enforced.EX: IRS/Tea Party Controversy
BUREAUCRATIC ALLIANCES"IRON TRIANGLES"ISSUE NETWORKS
***IRON TRIANGLES (aka: Sub-Governments)A three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats and special interests to make or preserve policies that protect their respective interests.
IRON TRINGLES: HOW DO THEY WORK?Special Interest Groups• Persuade decision-makers to adopt their preferences• Providing information to lawmakers• Writing legislation/Inserting language that favors their cause
into legislationMembers of Congress
Pass bills that are favorable to the interest group; often ***PORK BARREL SPENDING: Programs that only benefit a small group of people.Provide funding to the bureaucracy to carry them out.
BureaucratsMake regulations and award contracts that benefit the SIG.Use ***discretionary authority*** to fund projects in the districts and states of friendly legislators
***ISSUE NETWORKSAn alliance of various interest groups, elected officials and bureaucrats who debate a single issue in government policy.
Additional layers added to an iron triangle: Lawyers, consultants, academics
Often split along partisan lines.
WHY IS THE BUREAUCRACY SO POWERFUL?
GROWTHFederal bureaucracy has grown as demands on the federalgovernment have increased.
The Washington Administration only had three cabinet departments: State, War & Treasury
The post-Civil War period saw industrialization, the emergence of a national economy and greater need for control over interstate commerce.
1930s-40sThe Depression led to government activism through the administration of large New Deal programs.
WWII: Heavy use of income taxes supported war effort and a large bureaucracy
Bureaucrats made it difficult for Congress to challenge their decisions because “It’s for the war.”
9/11New cabinet department: Homeland SecurityCoast Guard moved to Homeland Security, creation of the TSA etc.
PROBLEMS (Pathologies)
Red Tape: Complex, often conflicting rules
Conflict: Agencies work at cross-purposes (USDA v EPA)
Duplication: Two or more agencies doing the same thing
Imperialism: Agencies grow regardless of need
Waste: Spending more than is necessary on a product or service.
BECOMING A BUREAUCRAT
***SPOILS SYSTEM***Politicalparty awards civil service positions to supporters following an election.
(AKA: Patronage; Cronyism)
-Popular calls for reforms during the 1860s led to the…
***MERIT SYSTEM:*** Civil service employees are hired based upon qualifications or testing.
REFORMING THE BUREAUCRACY
OBSTACLES TO REFORM
Lack of Accountability: Blame for an initiative’s failure is difficult to place (POTUS, Congress, Agency?)
Competing Goals: Congress and POTUS often disagree on what reforms are needed.
Tenure:
Careerist bureaucrats often serve for 20+ years
They often oppose reform for political, professional or ideological reasons
Careerists will often move slowly on reform initiatives in order to wait out the administration
SOLUTIONS
Restructuring: Consolidate/eliminate/realign agencies and departments in order to reduce overlap and improve accountability
Deregulation and Privatization: Eliminate unnecessary rules that hamper efficiency and introduce a profit motive to improve it.
Devolution
Break up federal departments and agencies and transfer authority to the states
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