wilson ch13
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The Federal BureaucracyThe Fourth Branch of
Government
Wilson- Chapter 13
Our American Bureaucracy
• The agencies, departments, commissions, etc. in the Executive Branch
• Executive Office of the President• Cabinet• Independent Agencies
– Organized like Cabinet depts., but lack cabinet status– NASA, SBA, FEMA
• Govt Corporations– Post Office, FDIC, TVA
Our American Bureaucracy
• Independent Regulatory Commissions– Created by Congress to regulate important aspects of
the nation’s economy– Decisions are usually beyond presidential control
(though Commissioners are appointed by the president)1. Commissioners. Serve long terms (5-14 years)2. Only a bare majority of commissioners can be of
same party3. Staggered terms4. Commish can only be fired by Prez for causes
Congress has specified
Our American Bureaucracy
• Independent Regulatory Commissions Continued– Commish has quasi-legislative power. Rules and
regulations which have the force of law.– Quasi-judicial power: settle disputes in their fields (FCC
fines of Howard Stern)– Some commissions:
• Federal Reserve Board• FCC• NLRB• FEC• SEC• FTC
Growth of the Bureaucracy
• Spoils system prior to late 19th Century
• Assassination of Prez. Garfield by disappointed office seeker in 1881 led to passage of Pendleton Act– Civil service created with exam-based merit
system– Today, 90% of fed employees are civil service
Growth of the Bureaucracy
• Size– 3 million plus– Fairly consistent # since the 50s
• Does this mean bureaucrats are just more efficient since there are more programs and responsibilities?
• Why or why not?
Growth of the Bureaucracy
• Power– Discretionary Authority: Agencies have the
power to choose various courses of action when Congress writes broadly-worded laws
– Passing rules and regulations– Help Congress draft legislation– Advice to the WH– Settle disputes
Growth of the Bureaucracy
• Reasons for Growth:– National growth– Technology– International Crises (Defense Dept)– Welfare Nation– Agencies perpetuate their own survival
Bureaucratic behavior
• Recruitment and retention– Appointed by merit system exam
• Ways around this (job qualification only one person can fill, temp appointment, lower job w/ responsibilities)
– Bonus pts for vets, race, gender– Difficult to fire
Bureaucratic behavior
• Recruitment and retention– Impact of policies
• Loyalty to agency• Continuity of agency behavior• Expertise• Managers must have support of
subordinates
Bureaucratic behavior
• Personal Attributes– Representative of American people– Upper level: middle aged white males– Tendency to be more liberal– Activist agency workers are more liberal
(EPA)– 30% in Defense– Less than 15% in welfare
Bureaucratic behavior
• Legal Constraints– Freedom of Information Act– Hatch Act: limits political activity of
Bureaucrats– Affirmative Action– Environmental Impact reports on projects
Controlling the Bureaucracy
• Presidential Influence– Appoint/ Fire top-level– Propose reorganization of exec. Branch– Propose Agency budgets– 7000 senior appointments
• Checks on Prez influence– Senate confirmation– Congress approves reorganization– Congress approves budgets
Controlling the Bureaucracy• Congressional Influences
– Appropriations of agency budgets– Standing Committee oversight– Reorganization– Appointment confirmation– Sunset laws give agencies limited life
• Checks on Congressional influence– Members benefit from agencies in state/district– Easier to have bur. work out details of laws– No legislative veto
Controlling the Bureaucracy• Interest Group Influence
– Revolving door– Client groups– Iron Triangles (Congressional Comm, Relevant
Agency, Interest Group)• Media Influence• Courts• Privatization of some aspects (Concessions in
national parks)• Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review
Weberian Model
Weber’s essential features of a bureaucracy:• Hierarchical Authority Structure
– power flows from top down and responsibility from the bottom up
• Task Specialization• Extensive Rules• Merit Principle• Impersonality
How would you evaluate the Bureaucracy?