The Federal Bureaucracy

1. The Federal Bureaucracy

2. What is the Bureaucracy? • Bureaucracy (Bureau = desk • cracy = governmental rule) • Implements and executes the laws made by Congress • Large and complex administrative structure • Job specialization and complex rules • A bureaucrat is a person with defined roles in a bureaucracy • 2.6 million employees

3. Civil Service • Spoils System • Patronage- Job or promotion given for political reasons instead of merit. • “To the victors go the spoils” • Political Machines • Pendleton Act • Merit Based • General Schedule System • Difficult to fire employees because of Civil Service regulations

4. Perceptions of the Bureaucracy? • Inefficient and Wasteful • http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/bloated-bureaucracy-washington-house-senate-debate-13067050 • http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/03/22/sinkhole-of-bureaucracy

5. Formal Organization • The Cabinet • Head of each department is known as “Secretary” – except Dept. of Justice (Attorney General) • Divided into bureaus, divisions, etc. • Dept. of Homeland Security • TSA • FEMA • Border Patrol

6. Selection Process • Appointed by the President • Approved by the Senate • Senate holds hearings to question nominee’s background and views • Senate can reject nominees

8. Executive Branch (Outside the Cabinet) • Independent Executive Agencies • Exist outside of executive departments SUPPOSED to be free from political influence • President nominates and Senate confirms agency head • Regulatory Agencies/Commissions • Agency outside of the cabinet departments that makes and enforces rules and regulations.

9. Government “Corporations • Businesses established by Congress • Provide services normally handled in private sector • Top officers appointed by POTUS  All employees are public officials

11. … So how do I tell the difference between these agencies? • To determine the classification of an agency, ask: (1) is it a cabinet position? (2) is it regulating something? (3) is it charging for its services? If the answers to all three of these questions is no, then you know it’s an independent executive agency. And if an answer to any of the questions above is yes, then you know it’s (1) a cabinet department, (2) an independent regulatory commission, and (3) a government corporation, respectively.

12. How the Bureaucracy Works • Implementation • The stage of policymaking between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy for the people whom it affects. • Implementation involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating ongoing program.  • Responsible for Regulation • Authority to change or control practices in the private sector (Red tape) • Rule-Making quasi-legislative process that has characteristics of a law • Interstate Commerce Commission, NHTSA (car safety standards), factory emissions standards, etc. • Deregulation • Lifting of government regulations (rules)

13. Bureaucratic Accountability • Presidential Checks • Appoint heads of departments • Has the power to reorganize agency (w/Congressional approval) • Issue Executive Orders • Rules or regulations written by the POTUS with the effect of law

14. Bureaucratic Accountability • Congressional Oversight • Confirmation of appointments • “Power of the Purse” • Investigative Hearings • ‘Police Patrol’ oversight v. ‘Fire Alarm’ oversight • Setting agenda of the bureaucracy v. reacting to constituent complaints (proactive vs. reactive)

15. Explain what the cartoon is saying about the public perception of bureaucracy and reality.

16. http://wolcottapusgov.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-daily-show-takes-aim-at-bureaucracy.htmlhttp://wolcottapusgov.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-daily-show-takes-aim-at-bureaucracy.html • As you watch, think about this question: • Why can’t the DMV (State level bureaucracy) be more like McDonalds?

17. Iron Triangles • Make sure you understand how each part mutually benefits from the relationship. • We will be doing a project tomorrow with iron triangles so it is important to understand