Pearson LongmanPoliticalScienceInteract

iveShea, Green, and SmithLiving Democracy, Second

Edition

Chapter 9:Bureaucracy

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Government and Natural Disasters

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

FEMA’s response was highly criticized.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Pathways of Action: Arsenic Standards for Drinking Water

Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) authorized the EPA to set purity standards.

National Academy of Sciences wanted to mandate arsenic levels of only 3 ppb (down from 50 ppb). Affected industries and communities complained that the new standards would be too costly.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy

Four types of organizational entities:1. Departments2. Independent agencies3. Independent regulatory commissions4. Government corporations

Bureaucracy

Organizations with a hierarchical structure and specific

responsibilities, which operate on management principles intended to

enhance efficiency and effectiveness

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy

The Expansion of Federal Civil Employment

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy

The First Departments

1. Department of State2. Department of War3. Department of Justice4. Department of the

Treasury

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy

The New Deal and its Aftermath

Social Security, 1935

Works Progress Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps

Agricultural Adjustment Act, 1933

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy

The New Deal and its Aftermath

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy

Changes Since the 1960sDepartment of Energy

Department of Veteran Affairs (formerly the Veterans Administration)

Department of Homeland Security, which absorbed the:

Federal Emergency Management AgencyImmigration and Naturalization ServiceCoast GuardSecret Service

Is the department too big to be effective?

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Departments

State (1789)Treasury (1789)Defense (1947; from War Department,1789, andNavy Department, 1798)Justice (1789)Interior (1849)Agriculture (1889)Commerce (1913) Labor (1913)

Health and Human Services (1979, Health, Education, and Welfare, 1953; Education split, 1979)Housing and Urban Development (1965)Transportation (1966)Energy (1977)Education (1979)Veterans Affairs (1989)Homeland Security (2002)

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Departments

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Departments and Independent Agencies

Work directly for president

Confirmation process

Inexperience of Michael Brown and subsequent problems might lead to more positions coming under scrutiny by Senate

Appointments can be used by presidents as rewards, and to signal agendas

Political Appointees in the Bureaucracy

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Departments and Independent Agencies

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Pathways Profile: Joan Claybrook

Has worked since 1960s on lobbying government to create and enforce safety regulations

Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under Carter administration

Head of Public Citizen, an advocacy organization

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Image of the Bureaucracy

Percentage of Americans rating the performance of the above agencies as “excellent” or “good”

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Image of the Bureaucracy

Do federal agencies receive blame unfairly for falling short of perfection?

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Advantages of Bureaucracy

Bureaucracies are created and evolve as a means to undertake the purposes and responsibilities of organizations. They provide:

•Standardization•Expertise and Competence•Accountability•Coordination

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Nature of BureaucracySuccessful political candidates and

parties reward supporters with government

positions, while firing those from the

opposing party.Used by governments until late 1800s

Led to high turnover in government officials, abuse of influence

Garfield’s assassination led to overhaul

Civil service system, created by Pendleton Act, 1883

Patronage or Spoils System

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Nature of BureaucracyCivil Service System

Pendleton Act, 1883

Hatch Act

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Problems of Government Bureaucracy

No Child Left Behind (2002)

Government Accountability Office reported in 2004 that the law had been poorly implemented.

States complained that the U.S. Department of Education failed to provide appropriate guidelines.

Transportation Security Administration (2001)

Created after the 9/11 attacks

Agency was plagued with problems of theft and poorly- conducted background checks of employees.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Reform of the Bureaucracy

Decentralization

More power to regional offices

States could be given more authority

This approach based on the assumption that smaller agencies can be more effective, closer to their work

Downside is the potential for inconsistencies

Privatization

Potentially better for saving

money

Arguably more efficient, less

expensive

Downside is that there would be no oversight, and that private companies would be more susceptible to outside influence

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Lobbying Pathway and Policymaking

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Bureaucracy and LegislationThe Iron Triangle

Interest groups

Congress members

Bureaucratic leaders and experts

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

The Bureaucracy and Information

Bureaucrats provide information for Congress to use in crafting and approving statutes

Formal method

Committee proceedings or requests for reports and documents to be supplied by government agenciesLegislative staffers or members of Congress contact agency officials with questions

Informal method

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Regulations

General statutory language can become the basis for the bureaucracy’s development of its own precise rules, a form of agency-created law called regulations, which govern the topics under a particular agency’s jurisdiction.

Statutes also specify the procedures that agencies must use in developing regulations.

Legal rules created by government agencies based on authority delegated by the legislation

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Quasi-Judicial Processes

Bureaucracy affects policy through hearing processes that look similar to courts’ duties in examining evidence and issuing decisions.

Hearings can be either formal or informal.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Interested in case of Guatemalan man to be deported

Convinced Board of Immigration Appeals to allow the man to remain in the U.S.

Student Profile: Kristen Eschemendia and Heidi

Craig

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Edition Copyright 2009 Pearson Longman

Chapter 9: Bureaucracy

Oversight and Accountability

All three branches of government have the power to subject the bureaucracy to oversight and accountability.