THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY

THE FEDERAL THE FEDERAL BUREACRACYBUREACRACYExamining the Examining the ““Fourth BranchFourth Branch””

bureaucracybureaucracy

• literally means “rule by desks”

• government by clerks

How Much Is Too Much?• Polls: People want small government

• Polls: People support almost all government programs.

1. Size

2. Organization

3. Staffing of the federal bureaucracy

bureaucracybureaucracyDefinition: an administrative

system, especially in a government, that divides work into specific categories carried out by special departments of nonelected officials

Models of Bureaucracy

1. Weberian Model: Max Weber, Top-Down leadership, individual advancement based upon merit rather than political connections.

2. Acquisitive Model: Expansion of bureaucrats, avoid reductions, maximize the size of their budgets and staff: Government contracts: national defense, public housing, agricultural subsidies,etc.

Models of Bureaucracy

3. Monopolistic Model: Little reason to adopt cost-saving measures, chronic inefficiency, no competition

--Solution: Privatize public sector

--Public vs. Private school

--Public Utilities vs. Private owned

--Public bathrooms vs. Private bathrooms

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a BureaucracyBureaucracy

• administration of government through departments

• consists of unelected often highly trained professionals

• task specialization• hierarchical authority

Public PerceptionsPublic Perceptionsof Bureaucraciesof Bureaucracies

• impersonal

• inclined to follow rigid or complex procedures

• may stifle effectiveness and innovation

• “red tape”

The Federal Bureaucracy

What is the federal bureaucracy?What is the federal bureaucracy?

The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:The Federal Bureaucracy is:

4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants”

President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments)

15 cabinet level departments 200+ independent agencies with 2,000+

bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal

Service, Veterans Administration

4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants”

President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments)

15 cabinet level departments 200+ independent agencies with 2,000+

bureaus, divisions, branches, etc. Biggest - Dept. of Defense, U.S. Postal

Service, Veterans Administration


What does the federal bureaucracy do?What does the federal bureaucracy do?

Functions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracyFunctions of the Federal Functions of the Federal BureaucracyBureaucracy

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)

Source: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp

1.1. ImplementationImplementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President

2.2. AdministrationAdministration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)

3.3. RegulationRegulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)

Source: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp

Independent Regulatory Agencies Independent Regulatory Agencies1. ICC- Interstate Commerce Commission 1887

(Munn v Illinois) **************

--Gov’t control of Business and trade between states. New tax source. Rates, Profits, and Rules. Abolished 1995

2. FCC-Federal Communication Commission

3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

1. ICC- Interstate Commerce Commission 1887 (Munn v Illinois) **************

--Gov’t control of Business and trade between states. New tax source. Rates, Profits, and Rules. Abolished 1995

2. FCC-Federal Communication Commission

3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Purpose of Independent Regulatory AgenciesPurpose of Independent Regulatory Agencies1. Independent of: 3 Branches of Gov’t

2. Their rules have the Force of Law.

3. They can enforce their own rules.

4. They decide disputes against themselves.

FTC, IRS, SEC, FCC, NLRB, NRC, FRS

Internal Revenue Service is an Independent Regulatory Agency***************

1. Independent of: 3 Branches of Gov’t

2. Their rules have the Force of Law.

3. They can enforce their own rules.

4. They decide disputes against themselves.

FTC, IRS, SEC, FCC, NLRB, NRC, FRS

Internal Revenue Service is an Independent Regulatory Agency***************

Deregulation and Reregulation****************************Deregulation and Reregulation**************************** Ronald Reagan: (1981-1989) Less

Government. Less Regulation George H. Bush: (1988-1992) Reregulation.

Americans with Disabilites Act, Civil Rights Act of 1991, Cable Reregulation Act

Bill Clinton: Extended EPA regulations, Deregulated Banking, Telecommunications, and eliminated the ICC

Ronald Reagan: (1981-1989) Less Government. Less Regulation

George H. Bush: (1988-1992) Reregulation. Americans with Disabilites Act, Civil Rights Act of 1991, Cable Reregulation Act

Bill Clinton: Extended EPA regulations, Deregulated Banking, Telecommunications, and eliminated the ICC

Bureaucracies ComparedBureaucracies Compared

1. Financial Assistance to States: Dept. of Education, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Publicly owned telephone companies, railroads, airlines.

--administrative agencies: EPA, NRC, SEC which regulate private companies

2. RESULTS: Input Costs for Business (Taxes and Regulations). EEOC, OSHA, SSA

1. Financial Assistance to States: Dept. of Education, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Publicly owned telephone companies, railroads, airlines.

--administrative agencies: EPA, NRC, SEC which regulate private companies

2. RESULTS: Input Costs for Business (Taxes and Regulations). EEOC, OSHA, SSA


How is the federal bureaucracy organized?How is the federal bureaucracy organized?

The Federal BureaucracyThe Federal BureaucracyThe Federal BureaucracyThe Federal Bureaucracy

Consists of1. Cabinet Departments 2. Independent Executive Agencies3. Independent Regulatory

Commissions4. Government Corporations

Government Corporations Government Corporations

• Read pg. 436. Government Profits

1. TVA

2. FDIC

3. NRPC

4. U.S. Post Office

Federal Bureaucracy

President Congress

Executive Officeof the

President(Ex: OMB, NSC)

Government Corporations(Ex: Amtrack, Postal Service)

Independent Regulatory

Commissions(Ex: FCC, SEC)

Independent Executive Agencies

(Ex: CIA, NASA)

CabinetDepartments

(Ex: State, Defense)

Organization of the Federal BureaucracyOrganization of the Federal Bureaucracy

Source: www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths/ClassActivities/ Brzovic/policeymakersChapters12-16/

The Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet DepartmentsThe Cabinet Departments

• The 15 cabinet departments headed by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president and approved by the Senate

• Each department “expert” in specific policy area

• Each department has its own budget

• Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is newest department

Secretary----------------------------------

Deputy Secretary

Under SecretaryScience and Technology

Under Secretary Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

Under SecretaryBorder &

Transportation Security

Under Secretary Emergency

Preparedness and Response

Under SecretaryManagement

Inspector General

Director of theSecret Service (1)

Commandant ofCoast Guard (1)

Director, Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (1)

General Counsel

State and Local Coordination

Special Assistant to the Secretary(private sector)

National Capital Region Coordination

Shared Services

Citizenship & Immigration Service

Ombudsman (1)

Legislative Affairs

Public Affairs

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Department of Homeland Security

Chief of StaffPrivacy Officer

Executive Secretary

International Affairs

Counter Narcotics

Small & Disadvantaged Business

Note (1): Effective March 1st, 2003

Independent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive AgenciesIndependent Executive Agencies

• Established by Congress with separate status outside the executive branch

• Given a specific mandate and generally perform a service function, not a regulatory one.

• Some examples include: Social Security Administration, CIA, NASA, EPA.

Independent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory CommissionsIndependent Regulatory Commissions

• IRCs exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest such as the Federal Communications Commission (public air waves) or Federal Reserve Board (banking system, money supply)

• IRCs operate independently from Congress and the President

• Once appointed and seated, members cannot be removed without cause

Government CorporationsGovernment CorporationsGovernment CorporationsGovernment Corporations

• Government owned businesses created by Congress

• May or may not be profitable, but serve a public need

• Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Who works for the federal Who works for the federal government?government?

Who are the Who are the ““Bureaucrats?Bureaucrats?””• 97% are career government employees• Only 10% live in the D.C. area• 30% work for the D.O.D.• Less than 15% work for social welfare

agencies• Most are white collar workers:

secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers

• Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congress

Staffing the Bureaucracy

Categories of Bureaucrats: – 1. Appointed: patronage, spoils system, work

experience, intelligence, political affiliations– Aristocracy of Federal Government:

• Appointed and not Confirmed

• Less than 1/10 of 1% of Federal Employees are fired for incompetence. Why? “Red Tape” and Civil Rights

History of Civil Service System

• “To the Victor Belong the Spoils”: Andrew Jackson 1828: Spoils System

• Civil Service Reform Act 1883: Pendleton Act created Civil Service Commission

1976 & 1980 Courts strengthen rights of employees from termination due to politics

• 1978 Civil Service Reform Act: Office of Personnel Management to hire & Merit Systems Protection Board to fire.

Bureaucracy and Campaigns

• Why did FDR win 4 elections? Relate New Deal programs with his campaigns.

• Conservatives pass the Hatch Act?******

• Banned federal employees from campaigning

• Supreme Court overturns Act 1972

Where do Federal Employees Work?


What Jobs Do Bureaucrats What Jobs Do Bureaucrats Do?Do?


Who supervises the Who supervises the federal bureaucracy?federal bureaucracy?

The President Supervises The President Supervises the Bureaucracy the Bureaucracy

The President can:

• appoint & remove appoint & remove agency agency headsheads

• reorganize the reorganize the bureaucracybureaucracy

• issue executive ordersissue executive orders

• reduce an agency's reduce an agency's budgetbudget

President Obama

Congress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress Oversees the BureaucracyCongress can:

• create or abolish agencies & departments

• cut or reduce funding

• investigate agency activities

• hold committee hearings

• pass legislation that alters an agency's functions

• influence or even fail to confirm presidential appointments

Former FEMA Chief Michael Brown testifies before

House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina

Reforming Bureaucracy

1. Sunshine Laws before 9/11

--open public meetings in all levels of gov’t

a. Information Disclosure: Consumer protection of homes, borrowing money

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

Post 9/11: Information not so public if deemed “national security”


2. Sunset Laws: Government programs on a “decline schedule” such as: Tax cuts

3. Privatization: Vouchers for education, prisons, water, electricity, paramilitary organizations (Blackwater USA)

4. Incentives: Performance based bonuses for federal employees (Sales or Commission)


5. Helping out “Whistleblowers” –Truth-tellers: Gross Gov’t inefficiency or illegal action.--1989: Whistleblower protection act.--Why is there a negative connation attached to telling the truth?--Office of Special Counsel (Kenneth Star) Monica Lewinski, Paula Jones, Jennifer Flowers, Kathleen Willey, Eileen Wellstone, Carolyn Moffet, Elizabeth Ward, Paula Corbin, Sandra James, Christy Zercher

Federal Courts Check the BureaucracyFederal Courts Check the Bureaucracy

Federal courts can:

• through judicial review rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted within the law and the U.S. Constitution

• provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action Supreme Court of the United States

The Bureaucracy of PizzaThe Bureaucracy of Pizza

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

1. Why is the federal bureaucracy often referred to as “the fourth branch?”

2. Some critics believe that the real power in the federal government lies with the federal bureaucracy. To what extent do you believe this is true?

Title: The Damages of the

Bureaucracy

Artist: unknown, La Presna, Panama

Date: May, 2006

Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com

Title: Federal Employees Self Esteem Class

Artist: Chip Bok Date: unknown

Source: http://www.reason.com/9602/bok.gif

Title: Another Layer of Bureaucracy

Artist: Bob Englehart, The Hartford CourantDate: February, 2006

Source: : http://www.politicalcartoons.com

Title: FEMA’s Follies

Artist: Mike Keefe, The Denver PostDate: April, 2006

Source: http://www.cagle.com/news/FEMASFollies/main.asp

THE FEDERAL BUREACRACY

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