This document discusses the bureaucracy in the United States government. It begins by defining bureaucracy and explaining the growth of the bureaucratic state due to increasing societal complexity and changing public attitudes. It describes the organization of the executive branch and civil service. The document then examines administrative policymaking, implementation challenges, and reform efforts like deregulation, outsourcing, and performance standards to increase bureaucratic effectiveness and accountability.
2. Learning Outcomes
13.1 Define the concept of bureaucracy, explain
the role of organizations on the administration of
the nation’s laws, examine the reasons for the
growth of the bureaucratic state, and assess
arguments for and against its continued
expansion.
13.2 Describe the organization of the executive
branch, the role of the civil service, and the
bureaucracy’s responsiveness to presidential
control.
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3. Learning Outcomes
13.3 Describe the roles of administrative discretion
and rule-making authority in the execution of
administrative policymaking.
13.4 Analyze how incrementalism and bureaucratic
culture affect policymaking.
13.5 Identify obstacles to effective policy
implementation.
13.6 Compare the strengths and weaknesses of
reform efforts aimed at increasing the
effectiveness of the bureaucracy’s performance.
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4. Organization Matters
Bureaucracies play central role in
governments of modern society
Reflects need to survive
Environment filled with conflicting political demands
and hostility
Organized based on political demands and needs of
its clients; organization affects how well it can
accomplish tasks
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5. Organization Matters
The Development of the Bureaucratic State
American Government: enormous growth at all levels
during 20th
century
Principal causes: increasing complexity of society,
public’s attitude toward business and social welfare
changed
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6. Organization Matters
Can We Reduce the Size of Government?
Many Americans lack confidence in government
Ideological differences between parties and national
budget deficit have shaped debate
Reagan – modestly successful at reducing government
Bush – worked to enlarge government: 9/11, drugs for
seniors
Obama – expanded government: health care, financial
services oversight
Budget cuts require reductions in programs
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7. Bureaus and Bureaucrats
The Organization of Government
Bureaucracy in Washington: disjointed collection of
smaller bureaucracies
Departments
Independent agencies
Regulatory commissions
Government corporations
U.S. Postal Service
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9. Bureaus and Bureaucrats
The Civil Service
National bureaucracy
2.8 million civilian employees
Account for less than 2 percent of U.S. work force
Pendleton Act (1883) designed to reduce patronage
with hiring based on merit
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11. Bureaus and Bureaucrats
Presidential Control over the Bureaucracy
Civil service and other reforms insulate government
workers from party politics
President appoints only 3,000 people, 1 percent of all
executive branch employees
Pluralism can pull agencies in directions contrary to
president’s wishes
Presidents still have considerable influence over agency
policymaking
Appoint administrators sympathetic to their policy goals
Review policymaking to ensure in line with preferences
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12. Administrative Policymaking:
The Formal Processes
Administrative Discretion
The latitude that Congress gives agencies to make
policy in the spirit of their legislative mandate
Broadest discretion is in domestic and global security
Rule Making
Guides the issuance of regulations, which are
authorized by congressional statutes
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14. Administrative Policymaking:
Informal Policies
The Science of Muddling Through
Way policy might be made in ideal world vs. way it is
formulated in the real world
Rational-comprehensive model unrealistic
Real-world decision making parts company with ideal
Policymaking can never be based on truly
comprehensive analyses
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15. Administrative Policymaking:
Informal Policies
The Culture of Bureaucracy
Bureaucrats – inflexible and lack authority to get things
done
Norms guide individual behavior
Influenced by prevailing customs, attitudes and
expectations of people working with them
Sense of mission affects decisions about agency
objectives
Flexibility limited by legal requirements and need to treat
everyone equally
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16. Problems in
Implementing Policy
Implementation may be difficult
Policy not clearly stated
Directives lack clarity, leave too much discretion
Complexity of public policy problems
Incremental process – trial and error
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Pollution in Los
Angeles
17. Reforming the Bureaucracy:
More Control or Less?
Deregulation
Popular with conservatives
Difficult with health and safety issues
Industry claim regulations burdensome and reduce profits
FDA: Drug licensing procedures illustrate dangers
Some agencies allow companies flexibility in how to
meet standards
EPA: Pollution cap
Increased transparency and accountability
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20. Reforming the Bureaucracy:
More Control or Less?
Competition and Outsourcing
Conservatives want government to act like businesses
Emulate private sector practices
Recent reformers advocate privatization
Movement towards competition and outsourcing
continues to grow
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21. Reforming the Bureaucracy:
More Control or Less?
Performance Standards
Holding agencies accountable for reaching quantifiable
goals each year or budget cycle
Government Performance and Results Act
No Child Left Behind
States allowed to implement their way
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Figure 13.4:
Meeting
Performance
Standards a
Problem?
Just Lower
Them
Hinweis der Redaktion
Figure 13.1: Bureaucrats at Work
The size of the cabinet departments varies dramatically. That more than 1 million civilians are employed in the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs is a reflection of the centrality of national security and war in recent American history. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the tiny Department of Education, with fewer than five thousand employees, despite the common rhetoric about the need to improve education.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The 2012 Statistical Abstract, Table 499: Federal Civilian employment by Branch and Agency, available at http://www.census.gov/
Tarmac Hell
Flying these days has its share of challenges, but government regulation has resulted in some modest improvements. The airlines’ practice of keeping passengers on their plane on the tarmac while waiting for bad weather to clear is now subject to restrictions. If an airline keeps a plane on the tarmac for more than three hours, it is subject to a heavy fine.
Rolf Adlercreutz/Alamy