u.s. bureaucracy

8/3/2019 U.S. Bureaucracy

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The U.S. BureaucracyThe U.S. Bureaucracy


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A Comparative View of theA Comparative View of the

American BureaucracyA

merican Bureaucracy The American bureaucracy is different fromThe American bureaucracy is different from

bureaucracies in other democratic nations.bureaucracies in other democratic nations.

Structural influencesStructural influences such as the American politicalsuch as the American political

culture and the constitutional rules of the game have a greatculture and the constitutional rules of the game have a greatdeal to do with these differences.deal to do with these differences.

Hostile political cultureHostile political culture Americans do not trustAmericans do not trustgovernment and they do not think it can accomplishgovernment and they do not think it can accomplishmost tasks that are assigned to it.most tasks that are assigned to it.

Civil Servants have so little prestige and many of theCivil Servants have so little prestige and many of themost talented tend to stay away.most talented tend to stay away.


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Incoherent organizationIncoherent organization the American bureaucracythe American bureaucracy

has few clear lines of control, responsibility, andhas few clear lines of control, responsibility, and

accountabilityaccountability

Divided controlDivided control bureaucratic agencies have twobureaucratic agencies have two

bosses, the president and Congress, who arebosses, the president and Congress, who are

constantly battling for controlconstantly battling for control

AccessibilityAccessibility individuals and groups can get aindividuals and groups can get ahearing and a response from bureaucrats withouthearing and a response from bureaucrats without

necessarily starting at the topnecessarily starting at the top


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Transformation of the ExecutiveTransformation of the Executive

Branch: The Structural ContextBranch: The Structural Context Executive departments and officers are referred to onlyExecutive departments and officers are referred to only

indirectly in the Constitution.indirectly in the Constitution.

Administrative historyAdministrative history expansion in the size andexpansion in the size and

responsibilities of the executive branchresponsibilities of the executive branch Political linkage sector pressures on government decision makersPolitical linkage sector pressures on government decision makers

Changes in structural factorsChanges in structural factors

NineteenthNineteenth--century changescentury changes

The corporation and the progressivesThe corporation and the progressives

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

World War II and its aftermathWorld War II and its aftermath

The regulatory stateThe regulatory state

Devolution and rollbackDevolution and rollback


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BureaucracyBureaucracy

Bureaucracy has always been an unsavoryBureaucracy has always been an unsavory

word to the American publicword to the American public it implies redit implies red

tape, inefficiency, and nonresponsiveness.tape, inefficiency, and nonresponsiveness. To social scientists, bureaucracy andTo social scientists, bureaucracy and

bureaucrat are neutral terms that describe abureaucrat are neutral terms that describe a

type of social organization and the people whotype of social organization and the people who

work in it.work in it.


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The ideal bureaucracy: a modelThe ideal bureaucracy: a model

Large organizations in which people withLarge organizations in which people with

specialized knowledge are organized into a clearlyspecialized knowledge are organized into a clearly

defined hierarchy of bureaus or officesdefined hierarchy of bureaus or offices

A clear chain of command in which each personA clear chain of command in which each person

has only one boss or supervisor and a set of formalhas only one boss or supervisor and a set of formal

rules to guide behaviorrules to guide behavior Appointment and advancement based on meritAppointment and advancement based on merit

rather than on inheritance, power, or electionrather than on inheritance, power, or election


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Advantages of bureaucraciesAdvantages of bureaucracies

Ability to organize large tasksAbility to organize large tasks

Concentration of specialized talentConcentration of specialized talent


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How the Executive Branch IsHow the Executive Branch Is

OrganizedOrganized The executive branch is made up several differentThe executive branch is made up several different

kinds of administrative units.kinds of administrative units.

DepartmentsDepartments are headed by cabinetare headed by cabinet--level secretarieslevel secretaries

appointed by the president and approved by the Senate.appointed by the president and approved by the Senate.

BureausBureaus andand agenciesagencies are subdivisions within cabinetare subdivisions within cabinet

departments.departments.

Independent executive agenciesIndependent executive agencies are federal agencies thatare federal agencies that

are not included in any of the departments and are notare not included in any of the departments and are notcorporations or regulatory commissions.corporations or regulatory commissions.


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Government corporationsGovernment corporations are agencies that operate in aare agencies that operate in amarket setting and are organized much like a businessmarket setting and are organized much like a businessenterprise.enterprise.

QuasiQuasi--governmental organizationsgovernmental organizations are hybrids of publicare hybrids of public

and private organizationsand private organizations

Independent regulatory commissionsIndependent regulatory commissions are responsible forare responsible forregulating aspects of the economy where it is judged thatregulating aspects of the economy where it is judged thatthe free market does not work properly to protect the publicthe free market does not work properly to protect the publicinterest.interest.

FoundationsFoundations are units that are separated from the rest ofare units that are separated from the rest ofgovernment to protect them from political interference withgovernment to protect them from political interference withscience and the arts.science and the arts.


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What Do Bureaucrats Do?What Do Bureaucrats Do?

Executing the lawExecuting the law

Regulating (rule making)Regulating (rule making) AdjudicatingAdjudicating


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Who Are The Bureaucrats?Who Are The Bureaucrats?

Personnel systems in the executive branchPersonnel systems in the executive branch

Career civil serviceCareer civil service

Separate merit services in specific agenciesSeparate merit services in specific agencies Political appointeesPolitical appointees


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Staffing the Executive BranchStaffing the Executive Branch

The executive branch was staffed through aThe executive branch was staffed through a

spoils systemspoils system from the election offrom the election ofAndrewAndrew

JacksonJackson (1828) until the late nineteenth(1828) until the late nineteenth

century.century.

Corruption and favoritism during the years after the CivilCorruption and favoritism during the years after the Civil

War gave emphasis to the reform effort.War gave emphasis to the reform effort.

The final catalyst for change was the assassination ofThe final catalyst for change was the assassination ofPresidentPresident James GarfieldJames Garfield, who was shot by a disappointed, who was shot by a disappointed

officeoffice--seeker.seeker.


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Civil Service Act of 1883Civil Service Act of 1883 ((Pendleton ActPendleton Act))

Created a bipartisanCreated a bipartisan Civil Service CommissionCivil Service Commission to overseeto oversee

a system of appointments to certain executive branch postsa system of appointments to certain executive branch posts

on the basis ofon the basis ofmeritmerit

Competitive examsCompetitive exams were to be used to determine merit.were to be used to determine merit.

Congress abolished the Civil Service Commission in 1978Congress abolished the Civil Service Commission in 1978

and replaced it with two separate agencies.and replaced it with two separate agencies.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Merit Systems Protection BoardMerit Systems Protection Board


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OverviewOverview

The career civil service covers about 60 percent ofThe career civil service covers about 60 percent of

all federal employees at the present time.all federal employees at the present time.

Declining status of the civil serviceDeclining status of the civil service

The recent increase in antiThe recent increase in anti--federalfederal--governmentgovernment

feelings has made the lives of civil servants evenfeelings has made the lives of civil servants even

less enviable than before.less enviable than before. Characteristics ofCharacteristics ofcivil servantscivil servants


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ENDEND

Are any of you planning a career with the U.S.Are any of you planning a career with the U.S.

bureaucracy? Local or State bureaucracy?bureaucracy? Local or State bureaucracy?

u.s. bureaucracy

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