The Federal The Federal BureaucracyBureaucracy

An easy target….and a An easy target….and a necessary evilnecessary evil

An OverviewAn Overview

Any Major Organization is a Any Major Organization is a BureaucracyBureaucracy

One of two unelected policy making One of two unelected policy making bodiesbodies

Bureaucracy is a neutral wordBureaucracy is a neutral word Easy to bash…Conservatives say it too Easy to bash…Conservatives say it too

large, liberal, and unaccountablelarge, liberal, and unaccountable Liberals say it too slow, too status quo, Liberals say it too slow, too status quo,

doesn’t protect us enough (epa)doesn’t protect us enough (epa)

Myths and RealitiesMyths and Realities

#1 Americans do not like #1 Americans do not like bureaucrats (myth)bureaucrats (myth)

#2 Bureaucracies are too intrusive #2 Bureaucracies are too intrusive and getting bigger.and getting bigger.

Periods of growthPeriods of growth– Post civil WarPost civil War– Great DepressionGreat Depression– Great Society/Cold WarGreat Society/Cold War

More Myths and RealitiesMore Myths and Realities

#3 Most bureaucrats live in D.C. #3 Most bureaucrats live in D.C. (myth)(myth)

#4 Bureaucrats are ineffective, #4 Bureaucrats are ineffective, inefficient and stuck in red tapeinefficient and stuck in red tape– True, but they protect and help citizensTrue, but they protect and help citizens– Red tape can benefit consumersRed tape can benefit consumers

Bureaucratic TheoriesBureaucratic Theories

Weber model-necessary but Weber model-necessary but inevitable/draw power from expertiseinevitable/draw power from expertise

Rational Model-necessary due to Rational Model-necessary due to complex policy-makingcomplex policy-making– Heirarchical power structureHeirarchical power structure– Task specializationTask specialization– Merit principleMerit principle

More theories...More theories...

MonopolisticMonopolistic– Work expands to fill time Work expands to fill time – Acquisitive…act like corporations to Acquisitive…act like corporations to

expand budgetsexpand budgets– Monopolistic…there is no alternativeMonopolistic…there is no alternative

FireFire PolicePolice SchoolsSchools

One more theory…The One more theory…The Garbage CanGarbage Can

Will grow as they try out ideasWill grow as they try out ideas Many ideas are trial and errorMany ideas are trial and error Will latch onto any idea, pull it out of Will latch onto any idea, pull it out of

the garbage can and see if it worksthe garbage can and see if it works

How Do You Become a How Do You Become a Bureaucrat? Can you get Bureaucrat? Can you get

fired?fired? PatronagePatronage ReformReform Appointment PowersAppointment Powers Firing a BureaucratFiring a Bureaucrat

– Only 200 out of 3 million workers fired Only 200 out of 3 million workers fired for incompetencefor incompetence

– Chart explaining how to fire a worker is Chart explaining how to fire a worker is 12 feet wide12 feet wide

Bureaucratic OrganizationsBureaucratic Organizations

Cabinet-15 DepartmentsCabinet-15 Departments Independent Regulatory AgenciesIndependent Regulatory Agencies

– FDA, FCC, FEC, SECFDA, FCC, FEC, SEC Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive Agencies

– CIA, NASA, EPA, CIA, NASA, EPA, Government CorporationsGovernment Corporations

– TVA, FDIC, AMTRAK, Postal ServiceTVA, FDIC, AMTRAK, Postal Service

Diagram of US GovernmentDiagram of US Government

Diagram of Slater’s Living Diagram of Slater’s Living RoomRoom

Diagram of a SentenceDiagram of a Sentence

Diagram of QM2Diagram of QM2

Source: Paul C. Light, The True Size of Government (Washington, D.C.: Brooking Institution, 1999). Data for 1996.

Controlling the BureaucracyControlling the Bureaucracy

The PresidentThe President CongressCongress

– Authorization of FundsAuthorization of Funds– Appropriating FundsAppropriating Funds– Investigations and hearings Investigations and hearings

OversightOversight Budget investigationsBudget investigations

The Iron TriangleThe Iron TriangleCool Band Name or Obscure AP Cool Band Name or Obscure AP

Concept?Concept? 3-way alliance among legislators in 3-way alliance among legislators in

Congress, bureaucratic agencies, and Congress, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groupsinterest groups

Issue Networks-slowly replacing iron Issue Networks-slowly replacing iron triangles as policymaking becomes more triangles as policymaking becomes more complexcomplex– Often temporary and include outside forces like Often temporary and include outside forces like

think tanks, the media, congressmen, and think tanks, the media, congressmen, and interest groupsinterest groups