Political Science 4370
Issues in Public Bureaucracy/fall 2012
Professor Keiser
Office: 302 Professional Building
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00-1:50.
Phone: 882-8282
Lefevre 112
e-mail: keiserl@missouri.edu
Office Hours: Monday and Friday 2:00p.m.-3:00 p.m.
and by appointment.
Course Objectives:
Off in the quiet corners of the policy process, public servants distribute public benefits, write
rules that have the force of law, adjudicate conflicts and selectively enforce the law.
Bureaucracies implement the decisions of Presidents, Congress and the courts. Bureaucratic
decisions play a critical role in the politics of who gets what, when and how – the essential
question of public policy. In this course we will specifically explore the role of the bureaucracy
in creating and implementing public policy.
Your grade will be based on the following assignments (due dates listed):
Bureaucratic Failure Essay. 35% of grade. 7-10 page comparison of the Abu Ghraib and
Penn State scandals using the readings.
Final. 35% of grade (December 10th, at 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.). Bring blue book.
Presentation of a “real world example.” 20%: students must sign up for a date by
October 31st.
Pop Quizzes: 10% of grade (closed note, closed computer, open note).
Class Participation: The final grade will be adjusted up to 2 points based on class participation.
Class participation includes attendance, professional conduct during class, in-class and
Blackboard discussions, and participation during the student presentations. Quality discussion
counts as much as quantity.
Final Exams: The final will be essay (long and short answer).
Presentation: Each student will present information about a current event from a newspaper
article or news report that illustrates a concept about bureaucracy that we discussed in class and
be prepared to answer questions about the story. The presentation must focus on the
bureaucracy. The presentation should be about 6-8 minutes. It will be evaluated both on
substance and on style.
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Quizzes: Several pop quizzes will be given during the semester on the reading that is assigned
that week. Students can use their written or typed notes during the quiz but not computers,
printed articles, or books.
Bureaucratic Failure Essay: 7-10 page essay that compares and contrasts the Abu Ghraib and
Penn State scandals using the readings in the class. No additional research needed.
Policy on Late Essay: Late essays will be reduced half a grade for each day the essay is late.
The paper is considered late if it is turned in anytime after 1:00 p.m. October 12, 2012.
Extensions will only be granted in emergency cases and with proper documentation.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is central to the mission of the University. Without it, the granting of degrees
becomes a meaningless exercise. The Provost puts it this way:
Academic integrity is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of
the academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsibly and
honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all
students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. The academic community regards
breaches of the academic integrity rules as extremely serious matters. Sanctions for such a
breach may include academic sanctions from the instructor, including failing the course for any
violation, to disciplinary sanctions ranging from probation to expulsion. When in doubt about
plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, collaboration, or any other form of cheating, consult the
course instructor
Special Needs: Students who have disabilities that might affect their work (in or out of class)
should check with me as soon as possible. MU can make a variety of arrangements to help
assure equality of opportunity. You should also contact the Access Office for Students with
Disabilities at 882-4696 for assistance.
Grading: Plus and minus grading will be used.
A+ : 99% +
A : 94% -98%
A- : 90%-93%
B+ : 87%-89%
B : 84%-86%
B- : 80%-83%
C+ : 77%-79%
C : 74%-76%
C- : 70%-73%
D+ : 67%-69%
D : 64% -66%
D- :
F :
< 60%
Course website: http://courses.missouri.edu
60%-63%
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Required Books:
Available at the University Book Store. Articles in the syllabus can be found on Blackboard.
O’Leary, Rosemary. 2006. The Ethics of Dissent: Managing Guerilla Government CQ Press.
Vinzant, and Crothers. 1998. Street Level Leadership, Discretion and Legitimacy Georgetown
University Press.
Lewis, David. 2003. Presidents and the Politics of Agency Design. Princeton University Press.
WEEK ONE: WHAT IS “BUREAUCRACY?”
August 20th : introduction to class
August 22nd – August 24th: Bureaucracy, Democracy and Bureaucratic Organization.
WEEK TWO: BUREAUCRATIC DECISION-MAKING: THE IMPORTANCE OF
CIRCUMSTANCES, BELIEFS AND MISSION
August 27th-31st: Explaining Bureaucratic Decisions
August 29th: Discuss:
Wilson, “Circumstances” in:Chapter 3. Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do and Why
They Do It. On Blackboard.
August 31st: Discuss:
Wilson, “Beliefs” in Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do and Why They Do It. Chapter
4. On Blackboard.
Wilson, “Culture” in Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do and Why They Do It.
Chapter 6. On Blackboard.
WEEK THREE: EXPLAINING ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE
September 3rd : Labor Day- no class.
September 5th-7th Class Cancelled for Political Science conference.
READ: Report of the Special Investigative Counsel Regarding the Actions of Pennsylvania
State University. On Blackboard or at http://thefreehreportonpsu.com/
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WEEK FOUR: EXPLAINING ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE CONTINUED
September 10th: Obedience and Authority
September 12th:
Discuss. Modigliani and Rochat. 1995. “The Role of Interaction Sequences and the Timing of
Resistance in Shaping Obedience and Defiance to Authority.” Journal of Social Issues
51(3): 107-123.
September 14th: Discuss
Darley, John. 1995. “Constructive and Destructive Obedience: A Taxonomy of Principal-Agent
Relationships.” Journal of Social Issues 51(3): 125-154.
WEEK FIVE: EXPLAINING ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE CONTINUED
September 17th: Discuss.
Gino, Francesca and Max Bazerman. 2009: When Misconduct Goes Unnoticed: The
Acceptability of Gradual Erosion in Others Unethical Behavior. Journal of Experimental
Social Psychology 45(4): 708-719.
September 19th: Discuss.
Haney, C., W. Banks, and P. Zimbardo. 1973. “Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated Prison.
International Journal of Criminology and Penology 1: 69-97.
September 21st: Discuss. On Line Discussion- no meeting in class.
Adams, Guy and Danny L. Balfour. 2004. Unmasking Administrative Evil chapters 1-2 On
Blackboard.
WEEK SIX: ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE AND ABU GHRAIB
September 24th- September 28th : Discussion of Abu Ghraib and the film the Ghosts of Abu
Ghraib. Note – this film is very graphic. Anyone who wishes to view the film in the
privacy of their own home should see me before class.
START READING O’LEARY
WEEK SEVEN: CIVIL SERVICE AND POLITICS
October 1st-October 3rd: Politics/Administration dichotomy and the Civil Service.
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October 5th: Discuss O’Leary – entire.
WEEK EIGHT: ACCOUNTABILITY
October 8th: New Public Management and Performance Measures
Discuss “Non-fatal shootings in KC: Many Bullets, Little Blame.” Kansas City Start, Sunday,
June 3rd, 2012.
October 10th: Performance Measures continued.
October 12th: Organizational Failure Essay due.
START READING VINZANT AND CROTHERS
WEEK NINE: POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
October 15th- Rulemaking.
October 17th: Enforcement
October 19thst:Adjudication
Discuss Vinzant and Crothers – entire.
WEEK TEN: POLICY NETWORKS, CONTRACTING AND COLLABORATION
October 22nd-October 24th: Third Party Government.
Discuss DiLulio, John. 2012. “Unshrinkable Government” National Affairs II, Spring: 22-41.
On Blackboard.
October 26th: Turf
Discuss:
Wilson chapter 10 – on Blackboard
Washington Post “Brown’s Turf Wars Sapped FEMA’s Strength.” December 23, 2005.
WEEK ELEVEN: RESPONSIVENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
October 29th:- November 2nd: Representative Bureaucracy
START READING LEWIS
WEEK TWELVE: RESPONSIVENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY CONTINUED
November 5th: Presidential Appointments
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November 7th: Congressional tools of influence
November 9th: Agency Design: Discuss Lewis entire.
WEEK THIRTEEN: RESPONSIVENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY CONTINUED
November 12th-14th: Courts and Interest Groups.
November 16th: Transparency
THANKSGIVING BREAK
WEEK FOURTEEN: CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN BUREAUCRACY
November 26th: Student Presentations
November 28th : Student Presentations
December 30th : Student Presentations
WEEK FIFTEEN: WRAPING UP
December 3rd : Student Presentations
December 5th : Student Presentations