Pt 2: Chapter 13 Notes Flashcards
What does EXOP stand for
Executive office of the president
What is the current size of the EXOP?
Almost 2,000 full-time employees
Where does the EXOP work?
White house east and west wings and the Old Executive Office Building
Largest office within President’s immediate administration (non-deptartmental)
Office of Management and Budget
What is one important mechanism of the Executive branch under the OMB?
To oversee activities of federal agencies and departments
Most employees of the OMB are?
Career professionals. Provides continuity regardless of the President
Who is the word origin of the word bureaucracy?
Max Weber
The OMB is available to?
President and Congress
What did Max Weber believe about bureaucracy?
It was the best way to deal with large issues solved repeatably. Considered it to be a more rational and efficient form of organization than the alternatives
Who outlined 7 principles of an “ideal” bureaucracy?
Max Weber
What are the characteristics of bureaucracy?
- A well defined division of administrative labor among persons and offices
- standardized procedures
- specialized personnel
- a hierarchy among offices
- formal and informal networks
What are some of the things that the federal bureaucracy handles in americans’ everyday lives?
- delivers mail
- maintains parks and forests
- social security
- utility power
- defense systems
- finances
What did the federal bureaucracy look like in the 1800s?
- Initially small- 3,000 employees
- Role confined:
- defense
- foreign affairs
- currency
- interstate commerce
- delivery of mail
Dramatic growth in latter part of 1800s of the federal bureaucracy is response to what?
Economic growth
When was the biggest growth spurt of the federal bureaucracy? Why?
1930s
- Great Depression
What are the 5 types of federal agencies?
- Cabinet department
- Independent agencies
- Regulatory agencies
- Government corporations
- Presidential commissions
These have a narrower area of responsibility and include the CIA, NASA, etc.
Independent agencies
These are permanent commissions like Civil Rights, and Fine Arts and temporary Bush’s Commission to strengthen social security
Presidential commissions
How many civilian employees?
Federal employment
What criteria are most civilian employees hired at?
Merit criteria
Designed to improve the link between administration and the people
Patronage system
How is the patronage system abused?
Spoils system
This is based on neutral competence
Merit system
Small government goes with this system like growth in government goes with this system
Small govt = patronage
growth in govt = merit
How long is the budgetary process and who does it begin with?
Year and a half long, begins with presidential guidelines
Who develops a detailed budget to send to the president??
Agencies
After the agencies finish the budget, they send it to who to do what?
President who finalizes it with the OMB
Congress does what to the budget?
Alters it through appropriations and budget committees; full House and Senate vote
The president does what to the fixed bill sent by Congress?
Signs or vetoes
What is the administrative agencies’ chief task?
Policy implementation
- wide discretion in some areas
- rule making
- originating policy ideas
What is the agency point of view?
It comes naturally to high-ranking civil servants and distorts government priorities. Your work is the MOST important thing in the federal government
What are the 3 sources of bureaucratic power?
- Expertise
- Clientele groups
- Friends in high places
The concept of reinventing government includes what ideals?
- more flexible
- less hierarchical
- more decentralized
- consumer-oriented
