Bureaucracy is put in place to accomplish the tasks and manage the activities of large organizations (like big businesses and government). Bureaucracies are known for having specific structures for organizing workers and many procedures, rules and regulations for getting work done.Defining characteristics of any bureaucracy:1. A well-defined division of labor and duties among

persons and jobs. 2. Hiring based on specific qualifications3. Decisions and work based on rules and

regulations. 4. A hierarchy among jobs, such that the authority

and status of workers are are clearly laid-out.

From President Obama’s State of the Union Speech, Jan. 25, 2011

• The President made a promise to come up with a smart reorganization of the government and pointed-out the absurdity of government inefficiency. In what he called his favorite example, Obama said:

• "The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they're in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them when they're in saltwater. And I hear it gets even more complicated once they're smoked."

Patronage (a.k.a the “Spoils System”)

• A system of giving government jobs to family, friends, and political supporters. The spoils system meant that government jobs were used to support politicians and the political parties.

• In the early 19th century, government jobs were given to people and held by them at the pleasure of elected officials (President, Governor, Mayor, etc.)

• No requirement to prove a person is qualified for a government job.

• A person could be fired from the government at any time for any reason.

President James Garfield’s Assassination: 1881

Civil Service (a.k.a.“Merit Selection”)

• A system of giving government jobs based on ability and qualifications.

• Applies to all hired positions (rather than elected) within any branch of government at any level. Military positions ARE NOT considered civil service. Some jobs are excluded (FBI, CIA, etc.)

• The ability and skills of job applicants are measured by tests. The best test scores win hiring or promotion.

• Difficult to fire or demote government employees without a lot of proof and a long procedure.

Civil Service Test: Group ActivityOrganize into groups.

All members of your group will be given the same test.For the following questions, write one set of answers for the group.

1. Name the type of job these test questions are for.

2. Describe at least 3 areas of knowledge, skill or thinking ability that the test is trying to measure.

3. Explain whether you think the part of the test that you’re reading is difficult enough for that job. Briefly explain why or why not.

Civil Service vs Patronage

Describe two differences between hiring government employees by a civil service system and a patronage system.

Civil Service Tests

1.File Clerk

2.Health Clinic Worker

3.Water Department Engineer

4.Police Officer

5.Secretary

Patronage vs. Civil Service• People can be hired

and fired at will.• (?) Holds politicians

accountable because they are the only ones to blame if employees aren’t doing their jobs.

• Allows for corruption• Supports “machine

politics” where a politician or political party uses the gov’t to take care of itself.

• Emphasizes competences and qualifications.

• Disconnects government employees from political pressure.

• Adds extra procedures and bureaucracy.

• Employees can appeal promotion/demotion decisions.

• Hard to fire or demote.• Affirmative Action?