BUREAUCRACY
CHAPTER 11

What is a Bureaucracy?
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Non-elected government officials who perform the day to day functions of government.
Technically falls under the Executive Branch
Sometimes referred to as the “Fourth Branch” of government

Max Weber
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Standards for ideal bureaucracy
Hierarchical authority structure
Task Specialization
Extensive Rules
Clear Goals
Merit Principle
Impersonality

American Federal Bureaucracy
 Divided Supervision
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Congress
 Creates and eliminates bureaucratic departments
President/Executive
 Hires and fires personnel
State and Local
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Implements many functions
Personnel often work across the country, not just in D.C.
WE REGULATE, WE DON’T OWN!

Growth of the Federal Bureaucracy
 Patronage
 Pendleton Act

Modern Bureaucracy
 Office of Personnel Management
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GS Rating
Senior Executive Service
Merit Systems Protection Board
Historical Growth

The Cabinet http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet
15 Departments
Advise the president on domestic and foreign policy

Independent Regulatory Agencies
 Interstate Commerce Commission
 Federal Trade Commission
 The National Labor Relations Board

Independent Regulatory Agencies
Cont’d
 Federal Reserve Board
 Securities and Exchange Commission

Government Corporations
 Tennessee Valley Authority
 U.S. Postal Service
 Amtrak
 Corporation for Public Broadcasting
 PBS, NPR

Independent Executive Agencies
 General Services Administration
 National Science Foundation
 National Aeronautics and Space Administration

What do Bureaucrats Do?
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Discretionary Authority
Implementation
Regulation

Accountability
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Congress
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Duplication
Authorization
Hearings
Re-writing legislation
President
 Appointments
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Executive Orders
Economic Powers
Re-organization

Bureaucracy and Interest Groups
 Iron Triangles
 Issue Networks

Reforming the Bureaucracy
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Merit System
Hatch Act:

Criticisms
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Red Tape
Conflict
Duplication
Unchecked growth
Waste
Lack of accountability

Suggestions for Reform
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Limiting Appointments
Making firing easier
Rotating professionals
Rewarding employee initiatives
Fewer rules
Emphasizing customer satisfaction