The Bureaucracy

Chapter 13

BUREAUCRATSGOVERNMENT WORKERS

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Bureaucracies

• Americans tend to be against • “Big Government” in the abstract, but they

also demand all kinds of government services:

– Postal services– Social Security– Environmental protection– Airline regulation– Food safety

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Bureaucracies

• Bureaucracies are often handy political targets to blame for society’s ills.

• Yet, the same bureaucrats blamed for red tape have also accomplished some remarkable tasks: – NASA– TVA– National highway system

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BEST of the BUREAUCRACY

STATE DEPARTMENT

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BEST of the Bureaucracy

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The ABCD’S of Government

An easy way to remember the bureaucracyGo to other ppt.

Organization Matters****Laws passed by Congress are implemented by

the government’s bureaucracy

Bureaucracies play central role in today’s governments and society as a whole

Organization of a particular bureaucracy depends on its political demands and needs of its clients

Organization also affects a bureaucracy’s ability to accomplish its work

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The Development of the Bureaucratic State

Am. public concerned with size of bureaucracy Government at all levels grow enormously during 20th

century Society increasingly more complex Attitudes towards regulation of business and

government’s role in social welfare changed Ambitious bureaucrats have expanded

organizations to add responsibilities

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Not So Big by Comparison

• Compared with other Western democracies,

U.S. government relatively small

–Most of these countries offer more welfare and social service benefits to citizens

– Taxes in these countries proportionately higher 10

Can We Reduce the Size of Government?

Even incumbents “run against the government”

Many Americans lack confidence in government and believe it wastes money

Serious budget cuts require significant reductions in programs Proposed reductions of specific programs face opposition

and are politically risky

March 1, 2013 Sequester cuts go into effect---outcome TBD11

Can We Reduce the Size of Government?

• Debate on reductions in bureaucracy shaped by ideology and size of budget deficit– Reagan saw small government as

enhancing personal freedom– Obama sees government as a way to

promote equality and protect citizens

• Not always good politics to downsize government– An upside to providing a benefit to

citizens12

The Organization of Government Bureaucracy in Washington actually a collection of

smaller bureaucracies

Departments cover broad areas of government responsibility

Independent Agencies stand alone, some controlled by president and some self-governed regulatory commissions

Government Corporations perform services that could be provided by private sector but Congress believes should be done by government

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Figure 13.1Bureaucrats at Work

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The Civil Service National bureaucracy almost 2.8 million civilian employees

Diverse jobs make up 2% of U.S. workforce

Senior Executive Service top level

Most hired under civil service Pendleton Act (1883) designed to reduce patronage with

merit hiring

Pay and benefits of federal jobs compare favorably with private sector

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Figure 13.2Diversity Lags

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Presidential Control over the Bureaucracy

• Civil service and other reforms insulate government workers from party politics

• Presidents appoint about 3,000 people to high-level positions over 7,000 support staff

– Around 1,000 require Senate confirmation

• Pluralism can pull agencies in directions contrary to president’s wishes

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