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Chapter 15: The Bureaucracy
Chapter 15: The Bureaucracy
Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning 2
BureaucraciesBureaucracies
Bureaucracies are often handy political targets to blame for society’s ills.
Yet, the same bureaucrats who are blamed for red tape have also accomplished some remarkable tasks: • NASA• TVA
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Bureaucracies (cont.)Bureaucracies (cont.)
Americans tend to be against “Big Government” in the abstract, but they also demand all kinds of government services.
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© 2003 AP/Wide World Photos 2002 AP/ Wide World Photos
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A Failing Grade for Teach for AmericaA Failing Grade for Teach for America
Click the icon to open the movieVideo Supplied by Motion Gallery
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QuestionsQuestions Educating future teachers for needy schools would
appear to be a program that everyone supports. What is the financial reality of Teach for America?
How can this program become more effective? Should it be eliminated?
How would you restructure Teach for America to better serve needy communities?
Other than the Department of Education, should this program have additional oversight?
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Bureaucracy and the Policy Process
Bureaucracy and the Policy Process
Client Groups
Congress
Triangles and Subgovernments
Issue Networks
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The Veterans Affairs “Triangle”The Veterans Affairs “Triangle”
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The Politics of Bureaucracy The Politics of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy and Public Opinion
Bureaucracy and the President
Bureaucracy and Policymaking
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Models of BureaucracyModels of Bureaucracy
Weberian Model• Hierarchy• Specialization• Rules and regulations• Neutrality
Acquisitive Model
Monopolistic Model
Bureaucracies Compared
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The Size of the Bureaucracy
The Size of the Bureaucracy
Today there are about 2.5 million civilian employees of the federal government.
(UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt/Landov)
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A Profile of Bureaucracy: Government Employment—
Federal, State, and Local
A Profile of Bureaucracy: Government Employment—
Federal, State, and Local
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© Bob Daemmrich /Stock, Boston /PictureQuest
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Federal Agencies and Their Employees
Federal Agencies and Their Employees
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Government Employment at
the Federal, State, and
Local Levels
Government Employment at
the Federal, State, and
Local Levels
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The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
Cabinet Departments
Independent Executive Agencies
Independent Regulatory Agencies• The Purpose and Nature of Regulatory Agencies• Agency Capture• Deregulation and Reregulation
Government Corporations
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Major Regulatory Agencies Major Regulatory Agencies
The Federal Trade Commission (1914)
The Federal Communications Commission (1934)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (1934)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (1978)
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DeregulationDeregulation
The government regulation of industry, which increased during the New Deal administration of FDR, had by the 1970s become a target of criticism.
In the 1970s, President Carter called for deregulation of airlines, banking, trucking, railroads, and telecommunications.
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The Growth of Social Regulation
The Growth of Social Regulation
Although considerable deregulation of transportation, communications, and financial industries took place, social regulation increased during the 1970s and 1980s.
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Staffing the BureaucracyStaffing the Bureaucracy
Political Appointees• The aristocracy of the federal government• The difficulty of firing civil servants
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Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic ReformModern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform
Sunshine Laws • The 1966 Freedom of Information Act • Changes after 9/11
Sunset Laws require congressional review of existing programs to determine their effectiveness. If Congress does not explicitly reauthorize a program, it expires.
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The Civil Service The Civil Service
The Spoils System
The Road to Reform• 1850s
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The Carter Reforms The Carter Reforms
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Whistle-blowers
The Senior Executive Service
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“I’m sorry, dear, but you knew I was abureaucrat when you married me.”
The New Yorker Collection 1980. Robert Weber from cartoonbank.com. All rights reserved.
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Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform (cont.)
Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform (cont.)
Privatization
Incentives for Efficiency and Productivity• The Government Performance and Results Act
of 1997 • Saving Costs through E-Government
Helping Out the Whistle Blowers
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Billion Dollar FraudBillion Dollar Fraud
Click the icon to open the movieVideo Supplied by Motion Gallery
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QuestionsQuestions
When fraudulent practices associated with a bureaucracy (in this case, Medicare) come to light, who is usually blamed?
Should hospitals that overbilled Medicare be penalized? How?
Is it ethical for whistleblowers to receive a financial reward?
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Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policy-Makers
Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policy-Makers
The Rulemaking Environment• Waiting periods and court
challenges• Negotiated Rulemaking
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Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy
Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy
The ultimate control is in the hands of Congress because Congress controls the purse strings.
Congressional control of the bureaucracy includes the establishment of agencies and departments, the budget process, and oversight conducted through investigations, hearings, and review.
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Questions for Critical Thinking
Questions for Critical Thinking
What could be done to eliminate iron triangles? In modern times, we tend to equate the term
“bureaucracy” with “red tape” or inefficiency. How does the goal of neutrality and the need for specialization help reinforce those images?
Is privatization a good idea? What services or agencies should be exempt from private contracts?
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Web Links Web Links
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
The Project on Government Oversight
USA Jobs
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Web Links (cont.)Web Links (cont.)
GAO—U.S. Government Accountability Office
FAS—Federation of American Scientists
OMB Watch
Openthegovernment.org
