BUREAUCRACIESBUREAUCRACIES

US FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY & US FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY & UK CIVIL SERVICEUK CIVIL SERVICE

ROLESROLES

Similar rolesSimilar roles Both sit at the heart of their respective Both sit at the heart of their respective

govt administrationsgovt administrations Both expected to find themselves in Both expected to find themselves in

the policymaking process but to the policymaking process but to varying varying degrees………………………………………degrees…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………..

DEPT. HEADSDEPT. HEADS

US – less prominent party figures; rarely US – less prominent party figures; rarely have a political career that extends have a political career that extends beyond the patronage of the Presidentbeyond the patronage of the President

In contrast to UK no regular In contrast to UK no regular constituency or congressional duties constituency or congressional duties and less sure of seeing their legislation and less sure of seeing their legislation on the statute bookon the statute book

Ministers in UK advised by permanent Ministers in UK advised by permanent career civil servants/ permanent secscareer civil servants/ permanent secs

US – heads, undersecs & assistant secs US – heads, undersecs & assistant secs appointed by new administrationappointed by new administration

COMPOSITIONCOMPOSITION

US – largest part of federal govt US – largest part of federal govt includes variety of depts, offices, includes variety of depts, offices, agencies & commissions each with agencies & commissions each with their own interests and agendastheir own interests and agendas

Bureaucrats dealing with day to day Bureaucrats dealing with day to day issues permanent like in the UKissues permanent like in the UK

Rarely sacked but both subject to Rarely sacked but both subject to job lossesjob losses

POLICYMAKINGPOLICYMAKING

Both civil servants & federal Both civil servants & federal bureaucrats give precise meaning bureaucrats give precise meaning to policy – US – IEAs provide focus to policy – US – IEAs provide focus in each specific area and may act in each specific area and may act independently of executive depts independently of executive depts egs CIAegs CIA

AGENCIFICATIONAGENCIFICATION

UK – like in the US, since 1980s UK – like in the US, since 1980s growth of semi-autonomous growth of semi-autonomous agencies – Next Stepsagencies – Next Steps

Other similar developments – Other similar developments – growth of political appointees in growth of political appointees in the UKthe UK

Spoils system in the US Spoils system in the US

OTHER COMPARISONSOTHER COMPARISONS

US – decentralised bureaucracy-federal US – decentralised bureaucracy-federal bureaucracy operates under the formal bureaucracy operates under the formal authority of the President as chief authority of the President as chief administrator – difficult & unwieldyadministrator – difficult & unwieldy

Impact of separation of powers – number Impact of separation of powers – number of IRCs created and funded by Congress. of IRCs created and funded by Congress. President may appoint members but President may appoint members but cannot interfer with their responsibities cannot interfer with their responsibities as laid down by Congress or dismiss as laid down by Congress or dismiss themthem

Counter bureaucracies and Iron triangles Counter bureaucracies and Iron triangles