BUREAUCRACYU3, C15

WHAT IS A BUREAUCRACY?WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A BUREAUCRACY?Large, complex administrative structure that handles the

everyday business of an organizationFeatures and benefits: Hierarchical authority

Chain of command Speed action, reduce conflicts

Job specialization Each bureaucrat has certain defined duties and

responsibilities; division of labor Efficiency: each person focus on particular job; special skills

and knowledge Formalized rules

Established regulations and procedures Workers act with some speed and precision, decisions based

on set of known standards; allow for efficient turnover

WHAT’S IN A NAME?Department: reserved for agencies of

Cabinet rank (Department of Education)

Agency and Administration: any government body (EPA and NASA)

Commission: Agencies charged with regulation of business activities (FCC) and investigative, advisory, and reporting bodies (FEC)

Corporation or Authority: Agencies that conduct business-like activities (TVA)

Staff agencies: serve in support capacity; aid chief executive and other administrators (Executive Office of the President)

Line agencies: perform the tasks for which organization exists (EPA)

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT President’s right arm; advisors and assistants Includes several major agencies:

The White House Office: “nerve center”, key personal and political staff

National Security Council: offer advice on domestic, foreign, and military matters that relate to nation’s security

Office of Homeland Security: protect country against all acts of terrorism

Other EOP agencies: Office of Management and Budget Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Office of National Drug Control Policy Council of Economic Advisors Other units

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS Traditional units of federal administration;

Cabinet departments (15) Department head (secretary) primary link

between presidential policy and his or her own department

Subunits (staff and line); structured geographically

80% of men and women who head bureaus, divisions, and other major units of executive departments are career people

See chart on page 426-27 for list of these departments and their duties

THE CABINET Informal advisory body brought together by President to serve his needs

Cabinet members appointed by president and confirmed by Senate

Factors that influence President’s Cabinet choices Party Professional qualifications and

political experience Geography Interest groups Gender Race

Role Each Cabinet member is an

administrative head of one of the executive departments

Together they are advisors to the President

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES Administer programs

similar to those of the Cabinet departments but are located outside of them Do not fit well within

any department Protect from influence of

partisan and political pressures

Accident Peculiar and sensitive

nature (independent regulatory commissions)

Executive Agencies Do not have Cabinet

status but organized much like them

Few employees, small budgets, little attention

Regulatory Commissions Beyond the reach of

presidential direction and control

Board of commission Quasi-legislative and

quasi-judicial Government Corporations

Business-like activities

CIVIL SERVICE Civilian employees

who perform administrative work in government

Beginnings Washington: party

and qualified Jefferson: political

acceptability Spoils system

Andrew Jackson Patronage

CIVIL SERVICE – MOVEMENT TO REFORM AND TODAY

Pendleton Act – the Civil Service Act 1883 Make merit (quality of one’s

work) the basis for hiring Measured by independent

agency – Civil Service Commission

Recruiting and keeping best available people in the federal work force

Office of Personnel Management

Pay and Benefits Political Activities

The Hatch Act 1939 and Employees Political Activities Act 1993