What is a Bureaucracy?
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A method for organizing large groups
Loyola’s Bureaucracy
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
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Internal Division of Labor specialized by function.
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Employees are recruited and promoted based on
expertise (usually).
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Hierarchy
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Standard Operating Procedures.
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Effective, Efficient execution of tasks to reach goals.
Structure…The Cabinet
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15 departments
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Each established by Congress for
a specific task
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Headed by a Secretary
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Appointed by the President
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Approved by the Senate
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Each Dept is sub-divided
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Functions are greatly impacted
by the President
CABINET DEPARTMENTS
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Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
Created by:
 Congress
Secretaries Approved by:
 Senate
What the Bureaucracy Does
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Congress and Pres.
Pass a Law
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Bureaucracy
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Implement/Enforce
law
Department of the Interior
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SUBUNITS
Bureau of Indian Affairs
National Parks Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and
Enforcement
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES, REGULATORY
AGENCIES & GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS
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Report Directly to the President
Narrower area of Responsibility than Cabinet
Departments.
What is the difference between these three?
REGULATORY AGENCIES
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Created by Congress for a
particular area of focus.
Regulate particular activity or
interest
Free of political pressure
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Securities and Exchange
Commission
Federal Elections Commission
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INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
Like a cabinet dept. but have a more specific focus
Practical and symbolic reasons
Less indebted to President
NASA
CIA
EPA
GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS
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Charge for services.
Also receive govt. funds.
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Post Office
Amtrak
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Why do these exist?
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EPA VIDEO
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9:15 minute mark
http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_8/dia_8_video.html
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Why was the EPA created?
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What role does leadership play in creating an effective
bureaucracy?
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Can any bureaucracy operate effectively without clear
political guidance as to what goals it should pursue?
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Growth of the Bureaucracy
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1st Congress: 1789
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Created State, War,
Treasury, Justice
Departments.
Depression and WWII
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1861-1900:
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Department of Agriculture
Dept. of Labor
Dept. of Commerce
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Social Programs
WWII Use of Federal Taxes:
Expand Govt.
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Civil War
Industrial Revolution
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Change in public attitude
(role of Govt)
Amendment 16: Income Tax
(1913)
Military Preparedness
(Continues in Cold War)
1960s
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Civil Rights Movement
LBJ: Great Society (“War
on Poverty”)
Is the Bureaucracy too big?
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Department of Agriculture: NBC Learn Video
Who Are Bureaucrats?
Total Federal Employment
(2.7 million)
Executive (1.9
million, 70%)
Postal Service
(767,600; 28%)
Judicial
(33,800; 1%)
Legislative
(30,000; 1%)
U. S. Military
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543,000 Army
335,000 Navy
158,000 Marines
330,000 Air Force
810,000 Reserves
Who are Bureaucrats?
Hiring
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1800s
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1883: Pendleton Act
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Spoils System (Patronage)
Introduce merit based system
Today:
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90% are hired by the civil service system
Many “indirectly employed” through sub-contracting.
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i.e., military contractors
What the Bureaucracy Does
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Congress and Pres.
Pass a Law
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Bureaucracy
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Implement/Enforce
law
Congress Delegates Authority/
Bureaucratic Autonomy
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Administrative discretion:
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in creating policies, regulations, & disbursing grants.
Administrative adjudication:
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Settle disputes between two parties.
“The Bank Regulators’ Book Club”
1.
What was the law passed by Congress?
2.
Which agency was responsible for
implementing?
3.
Provide MULTIPLE SPECIFIC examples of
how the bureaucrats exercise
ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION.
4.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/02/04/133476579/thebank-regulators-book-club
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
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Formed in 1933
Why?
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Independent Agency
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Regulates Banks and Deposits
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Insure up to $250,000
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“Full Faith and Credit”
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Career Bureaucrats v. Political
Appointments
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Agency Point of View
 Career with one Agency
 Continuity
 Long term stability
 Status Quo
 “Protect Turf”
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President’s Agenda
 Temporary political agenda
 Short term goals
 “pet” issues/projects
 Attempt to enact change
Iron Triangle
Halliburton and the Iron Triangle
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deGPK54tBW4
Accountability: Checks on the
Bureaucracy
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Congressional Control
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Appropriate money
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Shape laws; create regulations
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Create Departments/Agencies
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Investigate agencies (hearings)
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Approve of secretaries
Accountability: Checks on the
Bureaucracy
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Presidential Control
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Appointments
Reorganize (with Congress)
Budget Cuts (with Congress)
Executive Orders
Tells them how to implement
Judicial Control
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Injunctions
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(prevent an agency from acting until court officially rules on a case).
Threat of Litigation
Declare actions unconstitutional
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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Federal Bureau of
Investigation
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Bureau of Alcohol
Tobacco and Firearms
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Drug Enforcement
Administration
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Federal Bureau of
Prisons
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
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Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)
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Transportation Security
Administration (TSA)
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U.S. Coast Guard
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U.S. Secret Service
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Customs and Border Protection
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
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Bureau of Engraving and
Printing
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Internal Revenue Service
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U.S. Mint