C HAPTER 8 T HE F EDERAL B UREAUCRACY. C HAPTER 8: L EARNING O BJECTIVES Understand the critical role that the bureaucracy plays in the implementation.

CHAPTER 8THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

CHAPTER 8THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

CHAPTER 8: LEARNING CHAPTER 8: LEARNING OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

Understand the critical role that the bureaucracy plays in the implementation of federal policy

Identify the bureaucracy as part of the executive branch of government organized hierarchically with standard operating procedures for doing business

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning


Explain “delegated authority” and describe the conditions under which such authority is granted

Describe the oversight function of Congress over the bureaucracy

Understand why Congress has provided some bureaucratic units with administrative judicatory authority



Describe how the federal bureaucracy has evolved over time, including substantial growth spurts as a result of the New Deal and Great Society programs and the Cold War



Explain methods for attempting to control or reduce the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy through privatization, devolution, deregulation, and accountability



Define the different types of agencies in the federal bureaucracy including cabinet departments, independent agencies, regulatory agencies, government corporations and the Executive Office of the President

Appreciate the large scope of the federal workforce and the civil service rules governing federal employment



…………: NOW & THEN: NOW & THEN


NOW…NOW…


The “Reagan Revolution” aimed to reduce the burden of government. Reagan found that he often needed to increase the size of government to accomplish many of his policy objectives. He left office in 1989 with a much larger bureaucracy than the one he had inherited in 1981.

THEN…THEN…


Thomas Jefferson talked the talk of cutting the bureaucracy, but failed to walk the walk of containing its growth. In his campaign, Jefferson stressed the need for “frugality” when it came to federal spending. When he left office in 1809, however, the federal bureaucracy was much larger than the one he had inherited in 1801.

WHAT IS BUREAUCRACY?WHAT IS BUREAUCRACY?

Often refers to overgrown government, excessive rules and paperwork, or a burdensome process

Despite negative connotations, it is necessary for any government

Laws must be enforced, programs must be administered, and regulations must be implemented


WHAT IS BUREAUCRACY?WHAT IS BUREAUCRACY?

Citizens are more likely to come into direct contact with the bureaucracy than any other part of government

The bureaucracy comes to symbolize what government is Visit to an unemployment office Check from the Social Security

Administration Department of Motor Vehicles


People wait in line to speak to a clerk at a U.S. Social Security office.


MAX WEBER’S SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF MAX WEBER’S SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE BUREAUCRACIESEFFECTIVE BUREAUCRACIES

1. Organized based on specialization, expertise, and division of labor

2. Hierarchical—chain of command

3. Standard operating procedures

4. Good record keeping—paper trail

5. Air of professionalism

6. Merit-based hiring and promotions


YOUR PERSPECTIVE … ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE … ON AMERICAN GOVERNMENTAMERICAN GOVERNMENT

You, Your Parents, and the Dreaded FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) Form:

What do you think about FAFSA? Is it too cumbersome or tedious?

Is the federal government transforming a simple process into one that is too complex to be effective?


YOUR PERSPECTIVE … ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE … ON AMERICAN GOVERNMENTAMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Do you believe this form of “red tape” is necessary to ensure that colleges and universities can make fair decisions about financial aid for the nation’s college students?


AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . . IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . . IN POPULAR PERSPECTIVE:POPULAR PERSPECTIVE:

MIXED VIEWS ON BUREAUCRACYAmericans exhibited mixed feelings

about federal government expansion in response to economic problems during the recessionary period of 2007–09

Over 8-in-10 either disapproved of government’s expanded role or wanted it to retract once the recession was over


WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY DO?BUREAUCRACY DO?

Most of the federal bureaucracy is contained within the executive branch

Executive power—to carry out, administer, and enforce specific laws Primarily a presidential responsibility

The president uses the bureaucracy to exercise executive authority


POLICY IMPLEMENTATIONPOLICY IMPLEMENTATION

The process of carrying out a law - requires translating the legislation into action

Begin by developing regulations – rules guiding employees in carrying out the program or service

The rules are published in the Federal Register and enforceable by law


BUREAUCRATIC LEGISLATIONBUREAUCRATIC LEGISLATION

When laws are vague, agencies have administrative discretion—

Considerable freedom in deciding how to implement the law

Delegated congressional power—The agency has power to make laws

(administrative law)—power that is supposed to rest with Congress alone


CHECK THE LISTCHECK THE LIST

SENATOR PROXMIRE’S TOP TEN GOLDEN FLEECE AWARDS

In 1975, U.S. Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) began taking aim at wasteful pork-barrel spending in the federal bureaucracy

The “Golden Fleece Awards” target bureaucratic agencies spending money on wasteful programs


PROXMIRE’S TOP TENPROXMIRE’S TOP TEN


CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT

Congress’s monitoring of bureaucratic agency performance—accountability

Options: Conduct investigations Reduce or eliminate the budget Refuse to confirm appointmentsEliminate the agency, or establish a

new agency and shift resources and powers to it


BUREAUCRATIC ADJUDICATIONBUREAUCRATIC ADJUDICATION

Determining the rights and duties of particular parties within the scope of an agency’s rules or regulations

Most adjudication takes place in the court system

However, Congress has placed judicial power in some bureaucratic agencies

Example: EEOCCopyright © 2012 Cengage Learning

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACYFEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

During Washington’s presidency Congress created just three departments Department of State—foreign affairs Department of Treasury—fiscal affairs Department of War—military affairs

Later authorized hiring an attorney general and a postmaster general

Approximately 50 federal employees



Mid-1800s: Congress created the Department of the Interior

1862: Department of Agriculture1870: Department of Justice1884: Bureau of Labor1888: Commerce Agency Early 1900s: Given Cabinet status



FDR’s New Deal created a myriad of new federal agencies:

Examples: Social Security Administration Securities and Exchange Commission Civilian Conservation Corps



1940—federal government accounted for 10% of the gross domestic product 1975—22%

$9.5 billion spent on federal programs 1975—$332 billion

About 700,000 federal employees 1975—2.2 million



Two factors fueling the massive growth

1. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society program of the 1960s Social and economic improvements

2. Cold War—U.S. and the Soviet Union, vying against each other for global influence Federal budget for defense programs


AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . . IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . . IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:

ONE ITALIAN WRITER EXPERIENCES AMERICAN BUREAUCRACY

In Ciao, America!: An Italian Discovers the U.S., Italian Beppe Severgnini compares his experiences with the Italian and U.S. bureaucracies

A “matador faced with a milk cow.”


GETTING CONTROL OF THE GETTING CONTROL OF THE GROWING BUREAUCRACYGROWING BUREAUCRACY

Privatization: replacing government-provided services with the private sector

Deregulation: eliminating government oversight and regulation

Devolution: shifting responsibility and power back to the states

“Reinventing Government:” improved effectiveness and efficiency


THE ORGANIZATION OF THE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACYFEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

Cabinet Departments 15 major administrative organizations;

vary in size and importanceEach is headed by a secretary except

Justice (attorney general) President nominates; Senate confirms


AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . . IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . . IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:

CONFLICTS WITHIN THE CABINET1789–1793: U.S. Bank—Jefferson vs.

Hamilton1977–1979: U.S. response to the

Iranian hostage crisis—Brzezinski v. Vance

2003: militarily intervention in Iraq—Rumsfeld vs. Powell


INDEPENDENT AGENCIESINDEPENDENT AGENCIES

Not part of any executive cabinet department, but do report directly to the president

Focus on a narrower scope of issuesExamples: NASA and the Small

Business AdministrationAgency heads are appointed by the

president and confirmed by the SenateCopyright © 2012 Cengage Learning

REGULATORY AGENCIESREGULATORY AGENCIES

Implement rules and regulations regarding individual or corporate conduct related to some aspect of the economy

Not under control of the president

Run by independent boards or commissions that are not supposed to exert partisan influence

Examples: ICC, FTC, FCC, SEC, EPA


GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONSGOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS

Run like private companies even though they serve an important public purpose

When revenue falls short, the government will often intervene to keep it in business

Examples: U.S. Postal Service; AMTRAK; Tennessee Valley Authority


THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTPRESIDENT

Managed by the Chief of Staff:Examples: Communications Office;

Council of Economic Advisors; National Security Council; Office of Management and Budget; White House Counsel; Office of Science and Technology; Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; etc…


THE FEDERAL WORKFORCETHE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

Currently 2.7 million civilian personnel, excluding 1 million postal workers, and 1.5 million U.S. military personnel

Political Appointees and Career Professionals—About 8000 appointees (usually replaced by a new president)

7500 Senior Executive Service (SES) career professionals (usually remain employed)


THE CIVIL SERVICETHE CIVIL SERVICE

Majority of the federal workforce Theoretically hired based on

qualifications, and remain employees beyond the term of a president

Historically: the federal workforce began with “higher society” employees

Changed with Andrew Jackson’s “spoils system”—patronage


THE CIVIL SERVICETHE CIVIL SERVICE

1881—President Garfield’s assassination strengthened the reform movement in federal employment Killed by a party worker who didn’t get a job

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883

Hatch Act of 1939Civil Service Reform Act of 1978


GETTING A JOB IN THE FEDERAL GETTING A JOB IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Office of Personnel Management (OPM): http://www.usajobs.opm.gov

Bruce Maxwell lists four advantages of federal jobs in his Insider’s Guide to Finding a Job in Washington:

1. Nation’s largest employer, numerous jobs2. Excellent job security3. Good wages and benefits4. Excellent pension benefits


Pictured above is the “plum book,” which provides a listing of all job openings in the federal bureaucracy


NOW & THEN: MAKING THE NOW & THEN: MAKING THE CONNECTIONCONNECTION

The federal bureaucracy has grown dramatically since George Washington’s administration

As new presidents seek to advance new policy goals, federal departments and agencies have been created, modified, and expanded


POLITICS INTERACTIVE!POLITICS INTERACTIVE!

Czars aplenty in the U.S. GovernmentSpecial bureaucratic leaders—usually

enjoy close, working relationships with the president—no Senate confirmation

Presidents since FDR have made these special “czarist“ appointments

Obama, in his first 15 months in office set a record number at 38



Do you think that all high level appointments made by the president should require congressional confirmation before they can serve?

Should the so-called czars be formally confirmed by the Senate just as are all cabinet-level and many sub-cabinet-level appointments?



What accounts for the increased use of czars by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama?

Has the growth and increased complexity of the federal bureaucracy created an atmosphere wherein presidents need a special advisor to coordinate agencies in a specific problem area?


Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate


C HAPTER 8 T HE F EDERAL B UREAUCRACY. C HAPTER 8: L EARNING O BJECTIVES Understand the critical role that the bureaucracy plays in the implementation.

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