bureaucracy Flashcards
Bureaucracy
: a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality
four parts of bureaucracy
hierarchal
task specialization
merit principle
impersonality
4 myths about bureaucracy
americans dislike bureaucrats
bureaucracies are growing
most work in dc
ineffective and mired in red tape
Patronage
: given for political reasons rather than merit or competence alone
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
: act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage
Civil service:
a system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service
Hatch Act (1939):
prohibits civil service employees from actively participating in partisan politics while on duty
The Office of Personnel Management:
the office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process
GS (General Schedule) Rating:
a schedule for federal employees, ranging from GS1 to GS18, by which salaries can be keyed according to rating and experience
Senior executive service:
GS 16-18; are at the very top
Plum book:
lists top federal jobs available for direct presidential appointment, often w/ senate confirmation
example of plum book job
ambassadorships
which department is not headed by a secretary
justice b/c it’s headed by attorney general
largest cabinet departments
defense, hhs
Independent regulatory commission:
a government agency responsible for some sector of the economy, making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest. It also judges disputes over these rules.
examples of independent regulatory commission
fcc, nlrb
Independent executive agency:
the government not accounted for by cabinet departments, IRCs, and government corporations
examples of independent executive agency
nasa
Government corporation:
a government organization that provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and charge for it
example of government corporation
us postal service, TVA
Policy implementation:
translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program
4 steps of implementation
creation of new agency or transferring to old, translation of goals into rules, coordination of resources and personnel
why does implementation sometimes fail
Program Design Lack of Clarity Lack of resources Administrative routine Administrators’ Dispositions Fragmentation:
Standard operating procedures:
used by bureaucrats to bring uniformity to complex organizations
Administrative discretion:
the authority of administrative actors to select among various responses to a given problem
Street-level bureaucrats:
in constant constant with the public
Then why not reorganize the government?
Because of hyperpluralism and decentralization of power
Why was the implementation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 so successful?
Its goal was clear (register large numbers of African American voters),
its implementations were straightforward (sending out people to register them)
the authority of implementation was clear (had support of US AG and marshals)
Regulation:
the use of government authority to control or change some practice in the private sector
Problems w/ regulation:
Raises prices
Hurts American competition abroad
Does not always work well
Deregulation:
the lifting of restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities
Command-and-control policy
: government tells business how to reach certain goals, checks, that these commands are followed, and punishes offenders
Incentive system:
a more effective and efficient policy where market-like strategies are used to manage public policy
How can the President control the bureaucracy?
Appoint the right people to head the agency
Issue orders
Alter an agency’s budget
Reorganize an agency
How can Congress control the bureaucracy?
Influence the appointment of agency heads
Alter an agency’s budget
Hold hearings
Rewrite legislation or make it more detailed
Iron triangle:
a mutually dependent relationship between:
Bureaucratic agencies
Interest groups
Congressional committees
iron triangle example
Tobacco division of Department of Agriculture
Tobacco lobby inculding farmers and manufacturers
subcommittees of the senate and houses’ agriculture committee
constitutional basis for bureaucracy
article ii, “executive departments”
do heads of IRCs require senate confirmation
yes
2 roles of bureaucracy
provide services, regulate the private sector (munn v illinois)
limitations on bureaucracy
agencies must publish their regulations befor ethey are implemented, federal government to analyze and evaluate every mandate imposed on the states and make every effort to reduce those mandates
