The BureaucracyThe Bureaucracy

An OverviewAn Overview

IntroductionIntroduction Tends to have a Tends to have a negative negative

connotationconnotation Why?Why? Waste, mindless rules, rigidityWaste, mindless rules, rigidity BureaucracyBureaucracy: a system of : a system of

organization and control that is organization and control that is based on based on hierarchal authorityhierarchal authority, , job job specializationspecialization, and , and formalized rulesformalized rules

Ex: GM, the Catholic Church, public Ex: GM, the Catholic Church, public educationeducation

Which bureaucratic Which bureaucratic agency do you think agency do you think this is?this is?

Would you want to Would you want to work here?work here?

An introductionAn introduction Constitutional basis found in Article Constitutional basis found in Article

II, reference to II, reference to Exec. DepartmentsExec. Departments Has developed b/c of custom, Has developed b/c of custom,

tradition, and precedenttradition, and precedent Bureau:Bureau: desk of worker, desk of worker, cracy:cracy: form form

of govt.of govt. 6 primary functions:6 primary functions:

1.1. division of labor w/specializationdivision of labor w/specialization

An IntroductionAn Introduction 2. Allocation of function2. Allocation of function 3. Allocation of responsibility3. Allocation of responsibility 4. Direct and indirect supervision4. Direct and indirect supervision 5. Control on employment5. Control on employment 6. Careers are made within6. Careers are made within 4 million4 million federal employees? federal employees? 1/31/3 involved in involved in defensedefense agencies agencies Numbers are actually Numbers are actually shrinking?shrinking?

In our daily lives…In our daily lives… Delivers mail, maintains forests and Delivers mail, maintains forests and

parks, admin. Social security, builds parks, admin. Social security, builds dams, develops defense, school dams, develops defense, school lunch programs, regulates marketslunch programs, regulates markets

They may be They may be investigative, advisory, investigative, advisory, or reportingor reporting bodies bodies

Thank goodness for federal and

state agencies.

Cabinet DepartmentsCabinet Departments 1515 major major administrative units administrative units Top official is Top official is secretarysecretary Vary in size and importance:Vary in size and importance: Dept. of state- smallest but most Dept. of state- smallest but most

prestigious, prestigious, D of D- largest work D of D- largest work forceforce, Dept of Treasury: no longer , Dept of Treasury: no longer largest budget!largest budget!

number of semiautonomous units: number of semiautonomous units: agencies or divisionsagencies or divisions

Why might the Dept. of Why might the Dept. of Defense be so large? Defense be so large?

Three-step Interview Three-step Interview ““What changes What changes would you make to both budget and would you make to both budget and personnel numbers of the departments personnel numbers of the departments (based on the four graphs)?(based on the four graphs)?””

The First CabinetThe First Cabinet

Independent Executive Independent Executive AgenciesAgencies Resemble the cabinet, but have Resemble the cabinet, but have

narrower resp.narrower resp. Heads are appointed and report to the Heads are appointed and report to the

PrezPrez Agencies are divided into smaller unitsAgencies are divided into smaller units Exist apart from cabinetExist apart from cabinet as to not pose as to not pose

problems (symbolically and practically)problems (symbolically and practically)

Exec. Agency ExamplesExec. Agency Examples Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) NASANASA General Services Administration General Services Administration

(GSA)(GSA)

Regulatory AgenciesRegulatory Agencies Created because Created because Congress wantedCongress wanted

close and continuous close and continuous regulationregulation of of an an economic activityeconomic activity

More time and expertise than More time and expertise than Congress can provideCongress can provide

Beyond executive functions, have Beyond executive functions, have certain certain legislative & judicial functionslegislative & judicial functions

Older ones are Older ones are ““independentindependent””……

Regulatory AgenciesRegulatory Agencies Freedom fromFreedom from ongoing ongoing political political

controlcontrol Appointed by President, but Appointed by President, but not not

subject to removalsubject to removal Heads are Heads are commissionerscommissioners Ex: ICC, FTC, FDA, FCC, SEC, Ex: ICC, FTC, FDA, FCC, SEC,

OSHA, EPA (name them)OSHA, EPA (name them)

Government CorporationsGovernment Corporations Similar to private corporations b/c Similar to private corporations b/c

they they charge for servicescharge for services and are and are governed by a governed by a board of directorsboard of directors

However, However, receive federal fundingreceive federal funding Directors are appointed by the Directors are appointed by the

President w/ Senate approvalPresident w/ Senate approval

Govt. CorporationsGovt. Corporations Examples: TVA, FDIC, Amtrak, and Examples: TVA, FDIC, Amtrak, and

largest: United States Postal Servicelargest: United States Postal Service

People often complain People often complain about how about how dysfunctionaldysfunctional and and bloatedbloated the the bureaucracy is, but do bureaucracy is, but do people really want to people really want to follow through making follow through making changes to it?changes to it?