Bureaucracy is put in place to accomplish the
tasks and manage the activities of large
organizations (like big businesses and
government). Bureaucracies are known for
having specific structures for organizing workers
and many procedures, rules and regulations for
getting work done.
Defining characteristics of any bureaucracy:
1. A well-defined division of labor and duties among
persons and jobs.
2. Hiring based on specific qualifications
3. Decisions and work based on rules and
regulations.
4. A hierarchy among jobs, such that the authority
and status of workers are are clearly laid-out.
Patronage (a.k.a the “Spoils System”)
• A system of giving government jobs to family, friends,
and political supporters. The spoils system meant that
government jobs were used to support politicians and
the political parties.
• In the early 19th century, government jobs were given
to people and jobs were held by them at the pleasure
of elected officials (President, Governor, Mayor, etc.)
• No requirement to prove a person is qualified for a
government job.
• A person could be fired from the government at any
time for any reason.
• This made it easy to pressure public employees to
work for a campaign or donate money to it. Such
practices were routine before civil service reforms.
President James Garfield’s
Assassination: 1881
"Chet Arthur? President of the
United States? Good God!“ ~
supposedly quoted by a Republican friend (or
some accounts say a newspaper editor) upon
hearing of James Garfield’s assassination
• Arthur was the customs collector at the New York
Customs House, a coveted position because of its
power and potential for embezzlement. (He was
eventually fired by President Rutherford Hayes)
• Arthur's official salary: approx. $10,000/year; his
actual income was approx. $60,000/year after
bribes and kickbacks, making more than the
president did at that time ($50,000).
Civil Service (a.k.a.“Merit Selection”)
• A system of giving government jobs based on ability
and qualifications.
• Applies to all hired positions (rather than elected)
within any branch of government at any level.
• The ability and skills of job applicants are measured
by tests. The best test scores win hiring or promotion.
• Difficult to fire or demote government employees
without a lot of proof and a long procedure. (Protects
them from pressure from elected officials to use
government power to reward friends.)
• Government workers were prohibited from making
political contributions (since eliminated) and from
using government work time for political purposes
Patronage vs. Civil Service
• People can be hired
and fired at will.
• (?) Holds politicians
accountable because
they are the only ones
to blame if employees
aren’t doing their jobs.
• Allows for corruption
• Supports “machine
politics” where a
politician or political
party uses the gov’t to
take care of itself.
• Emphasizes
competences and
qualifications.
• Disconnects government
employees from political
pressure.
• Adds extra procedures
and bureaucracy.
• Employees can appeal
promotion/demotion
decisions.
• Hard to fire or demote.
• Affirmative Action?