Bureaucracy

Carter’s MouseGeneral characteristics of the bureaucracyGeneral characteristics of the bureaucracy

GoalsGoals: careerism, long term, pro-government, : careerism, long term, pro-government, loyalty to the agency rather than president.loyalty to the agency rather than president.

Internal warfareInternal warfare– foreign policy: State Dept., NSC, Pentagon, foreign policy: State Dept., NSC, Pentagon,

CIA, Arms Control and Disarmament, etc. Ag. CIA, Arms Control and Disarmament, etc. Ag. Dept. vs. FDA on “beneficial bugs.”Dept. vs. FDA on “beneficial bugs.”

– makes it tough for the president to lead.makes it tough for the president to lead.– Problems with the CDC and FBI in the anthrax Problems with the CDC and FBI in the anthrax

scare. FBI vs. CIA in war on terror. CIA and scare. FBI vs. CIA in war on terror. CIA and Pentagon in war with Iraq.Pentagon in war with Iraq.

Characteristics of the Bur.Characteristics of the Bur.

Internal structure, status quo biasInternal structure, status quo bias– hierarchy, SOPs, incrementalism, “muddling hierarchy, SOPs, incrementalism, “muddling

through.”through.”

Types of bureaucracy. Types of bureaucracy.

Cabinet level agencies (State, Treasury, Cabinet level agencies (State, Treasury, Agriculture, Education, etc.). 15 of these.Agriculture, Education, etc.). 15 of these.

Independent agencies, NLRB, Federal Reserve, Independent agencies, NLRB, Federal Reserve, CIA, FDA, FEC, Peace Corps, etc. About 60 of CIA, FDA, FEC, Peace Corps, etc. About 60 of these.these.

Federal corporations: U.S. Postal Service, FDIC, Federal corporations: U.S. Postal Service, FDIC, Export-Import Bank.Export-Import Bank.

Control of the BureaucracyControl of the Bureaucracy

Inter-branch tensions: the bureaucracy Inter-branch tensions: the bureaucracy is subject to two masters.is subject to two masters.Constitutions dictates the rivalry. Constitutions dictates the rivalry.

Congress given “all legislative powers,” Congress given “all legislative powers,” president has to “take care that the laws president has to “take care that the laws are faithfully executed.” are faithfully executed.”

Morris Fiorina: mismatch of incentives and Morris Fiorina: mismatch of incentives and capabilities. President has the incentive capabilities. President has the incentive to control the bureaucracy, but not the to control the bureaucracy, but not the ability. Congress has the ability, but not ability. Congress has the ability, but not the incentive.the incentive.

Presidential Control of Bur.

Constitutional foundations. Difference Constitutional foundations. Difference between our system and a between our system and a parliamentary system (Campbell parliamentary system (Campbell article).article).

Historical evolution -- Presidential Historical evolution -- Presidential control of the bureaucracy is control of the bureaucracy is relatively recent. “Iron law of relatively recent. “Iron law of emulation” -- Congress and the emulation” -- Congress and the president respond to each other.president respond to each other.

Techniques of Presidential Techniques of Presidential ControlControl

Frontal assault: appointments, management, Frontal assault: appointments, management, and reorganization. Reagan and Labor, and reorganization. Reagan and Labor, EPA, and Interior Dept. Bush and NASA EPA, and Interior Dept. Bush and NASA (global warming), EPA, NSF, the Justice (global warming), EPA, NSF, the Justice Department (controversy over the U.S. Department (controversy over the U.S. attorneys). Articles on the surgeon general attorneys). Articles on the surgeon general – politics over science.– politics over science.

End run: avoid the bureaucracy. Centralize End run: avoid the bureaucracy. Centralize authority in the White House. Dangers of authority in the White House. Dangers of this approach. Iran Contra: State Dept. this approach. Iran Contra: State Dept. was “out of the loop.” Planning on SDI and was “out of the loop.” Planning on SDI and the war in Iraq.the war in Iraq.

Control of the Bur., cont.Control of the Bur., cont.

Controversy over the creation of the new cabinet Controversy over the creation of the new cabinet level agency on Homeland Security. Turf battles level agency on Homeland Security. Turf battles and labor issues. and labor issues.

Terry Moe’s argument from the week on rational Terry Moe’s argument from the week on rational choice: structures, incentives, resources. Create choice: structures, incentives, resources. Create institutional structures to minimize long-term harm, institutional structures to minimize long-term harm, so the president will want to politicize the so the president will want to politicize the bureaucracy and centralize authority in the White bureaucracy and centralize authority in the White House.House.

Delegation is another alternative, but this can Delegation is another alternative, but this can backfire – Dubai ports deal last year.backfire – Dubai ports deal last year.

Bureaucracy

ReformReorganization -- this is a direct way to give the

president more control over important topics.Deregulation – more power to the free marker.Citizen participation – public hearings, comment

periods. Current debate over FCC and media ownership.

Analytical budgeting and OMB oversight. Party government – more ability to get things done if

you are all on the same page.Reinventing government -- Clinton/Gore initiative in the

late 1990s.

Growth of the White House StaffGrowth of the White House Staff

FDR

HST

DDE

JFK/LBJ

FordJEC

RWR

WJCGWB

RMN GHWB

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500

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700

Presidential Administration

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Number ofEmployees in theWhite House