Chapter 13 - The Bureaucracy

independent executive agency

A federal agency that is not part of a cabinet department but reports directly to the president

Explain how government employees are hired and how the civil service is administered.

A federal bureaucracy of career civil servants was formed during Thomas Jefferson's presidency. Andrew Jackson implemented a spoils system through which he appointed his own political supporters. A civil service based on professionalism and merit was the goal of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. Concerns that the civil service be freed from the pressures of politics prompted the passage of the Hatch Act in 1939. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 made significant changes in the administration of the civil service by creating the Office of Personnel Management and the Merit Systems Protection Board.

issue network

A group of individuals or organizations - which may consist of legislators and legislative staff members, interest group leaders, bureaucrats, scholars and another experts, and media representatives - that supports a particular policy position on a given issue.

Government in the Sunshine Act

A law that requires all committee-directed federal agencies to conduct their business regularly in public session.

Weberian Model

A model of bureaucracy developed by the German sociologist Max Weber, who viewed bureaucracies as rational, hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning.

Monopolistic Model

A model of bureaucracy that compares bureaucracies to monopolistic business firms. Lack of competition in either circumstance leads to inefficient and costly operations.

Acquisitive Model

A model of bureaucracy that views top-level bureaucrats as seeking to expand the size of their budgets and staffs to gain greater power.

Enabling Legislation

A statute enacted by Congress that authorizes the creation of an administrative agency and specifies the name, composition, purpose, and powers of the agency being created.

government corporation

An agency of government that administers a quasi-business enterprise. These corporations are used when activities are primarily commercial.

independent regulatory agency

An agency outside the major executive departments that is charged with making and implementing rules and regulations within a specific area

bureaucracy

An organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions

Discuss the nature of the federal bureaucracy, and identify the largest federal spending programs.

Bureaucracies are hierarchical organizations characterized by a division of labor and extensive procedural rules. In addition to governments, major corporations and universities have bureaucratic organizations. Several theories have been offered to describe bureaucracies. The Weberian model posits that bureaucracies are rational, hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning. The acquisitive model views top-level bureaucrats as pressing for ever-larger budgets and staffs to augment their power. The monopolistic model focuses on the environment in which most government bureaucracies operate, stating that bureaucracies are inefficient and excessively costly to operate because they have no competitors. Since the founding of the United States, the federal bureaucracy has grown from 50 to about 2.6 million employees (including the U.S. Postal Service, but excluding the military). Federal, state, and local employees together make up about 16 percent of the nation's civilian labor force. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and military defense are the largest components of federal spending. Major sources of federal revenue include individual and corporate income taxes, Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, and borrowing.

Discuss how federal agencies make rules and the role of Congress in this process.

Congress delegates much of its authority to federal agencies when it creates new laws. The bureaucrats who run these agencies may become important policymakers because Congress has neither the time nor the technical expertise to oversee the administration of its laws. In the agency rulemaking process, a proposed regulation is published. A comment period follows, during which interested parties may offer suggestions for changes. Congress exerts ultimate control over all federal agencies because it controls the federal government's purse strings. The appropriations process provides a way to send messages of approval or disapproval to particular agencies, as do congressional hearings and investigations of agency actions

line organization

In the federal government, an administrative unit that is directly accountable to the president.

cabinet department

One of the fifteen major departments of the executive branch

Whistleblower

Someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action.

agency capture

The act by which an industry being regulated by a government agency gains direct or indirect control over agency personnel and decision makers.

spoils system

The awarding of government jobs to political supporters and friends.

Describe the various types of agencies and organizations that make up the federal executive branch.

The federal bureaucracy consists of fifteen cabinet departments, as well as a large number of independent executive agencies, independent regulatory agencies, and government corporations.

Civil Service Commission

The initial central personnel agency of the national government; created in 1883.

privatization

The replacement of government services provided by private firms.

Iron Triangle

The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.

Evaluate different methods that have been put into place to reform bureaucracies and make them more efficient

There have been many attempts to make the federal bureaucracy more open, efficient, and responsive to the needs of U.S. citizens. The most important reforms have included sunshine laws, privatization, and protection for whistle blowers.

There are many models of bureaucratic behavior. One argues that top-level bureaucrats always want to expand their bureaucracies. This is called the _____________ model.

acquisitive

Privatization means that: a. the government must provide individuals with the information it has on them. b. private companies replace members of the civil service in providing a government service. c. bonuses are awarded for efficient work

bonuses are awarded for efficient work

Because Congress cannot oversee the daily administration of its many programs, it delegates power to agencies through _____________ _____________.

enabling legislation

When a federal agency's function is to make and implement rules and regulations to protect the public interest, it is called a(n) _____________ _____________ _____________.

independent regulatory agency

In terms of federal dollars spent, the most important programs are: a. social programs, including Social Security and Medicare b. the military and subsidies for corporations c. foreign aid

social programs, including Social Security and Medicare

In the early days of this country, when one party won the presidency, government employees were often fired and replaced with those who supported the incoming president's party. This was called the _____________ _____________.

spoils system

The first significant legislation aimed at making the federal civil service nonpartisan and independent was: a. the Civil Service Act of 1978. b. the Hatch Act. c. the Pendleton Act of 1883

the Pendleton Act of 1883

The heads of federal regulatory agencies and members of agency boards and commissions are appointed by: a. the president acting alone. b. the president with the consent of the Senate. c. the Supreme Court.

the president with the consent of the Senate.

merit system

the selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of competitive examinations.