Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy

Federal Bureaucracy

The administrative system governing federal agencies.

Bureaucrats

Individuals working within the federal bureaucracy.

Civil Servants

Employees hired based on merit for government roles.

Political Appointees

Individuals appointed to positions by elected officials.

Patronage

System of appointing officials based on political support.

Merit System

Hiring based on qualifications and performance.

Pendleton Act

1883 law establishing merit-based civil service.

Hatch Act

1939 law limiting political activities of federal employees.

Iron Triangles

Stable relationships among bureaucracies, interest groups, and Congress.

Deregulation

Reduction or elimination of government rules and regulations.

Regulation

Government rules to control or manage activities.

Public Policy Implementation

Execution of government policies by bureaucratic agencies.

Bureaucratic Effectiveness

Ability to efficiently implement public policies.

Federal Employment Statistics

2.7 million federal employees, 2% of civilian jobs.

Department of Defense

Largest employer, comprising 28% of federal bureaucrats.

Bureaucratic Myths

Common misconceptions about bureaucracies and their functions.

Bureaucratic Growth

Trend of increasing size of bureaucratic agencies.

Ambassadorships

Diplomatic positions often awarded to political contributors.

Demographic Balance

Efforts to ensure diversity among appointed officials.

Bureaucratic Inefficiency

Perception of bureaucracies as slow and ineffective.

Bureaucratic Representation

Civil servants more diverse than elected officials.

Civil Service System

Framework governing employment and promotion in bureaucracy.

Political Appointees

Transient employees with limited power, under two years.

Civilian Employees

Federal bureaucracy employs 5,100,750 civilians today.

Cabinet Departments

Fifteen departments, each led by a secretary.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Enforce rules and resolve disputes, insulated from politics.

Government Corporations

Provide services at lower costs than private sector.

Tennessee Valley Authority

A government corporation providing electricity and services.

U.S. Postal Service

Government corporation handling mail delivery services.

Amtrak

Government corporation providing intercity passenger rail services.

Independent Executive Agencies

45-50 agencies not categorized as departments or corporations.

Regulatory Capture

When regulatory agencies favor industry over public interest.

Bureaus

Subdivisions within departments managing specific functions.

Fixed Terms

Commissioners serve set terms to ensure stability.

Alphabet Soup

A term for various regulatory commission acronyms.

Implementation

The process of executing government policies and plans.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Case study of successful bureaucratic implementation.

Privatization

Transfer of public services to private sector management.

Senior Civil Servants

Experienced officials guiding political appointees.

Undersecretaries

Assist secretaries in managing cabinet departments.

Assistant Secretaries

Support undersecretaries in departmental operations.

Dispute Resolution

Process of settling conflicts over regulatory rules.

Consumer Charges

Fees for services provided by government corporations.

Implementation

Process of executing policies through actions.

Policies

Guidelines that govern actions and decisions.

Bureaucracies

Organizations that manage and implement policies.

Program Design

Structure and strategy for policy execution.

Clarity

Clear understanding of policy goals and processes.

Resources

Assets required for effective policy implementation.

Funding

Financial support necessary for program execution.

Personnel

Staff needed to carry out policy tasks.

Authority

Legal power to enforce and implement policies.

Administrative Routine

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for operations.

Dispositions

Attitudes and behaviors of administrators affecting implementation.

Fragmentation

Division of responsibilities leading to implementation challenges.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at protecting African American voting rights.

Federal Registrars

Officials responsible for overseeing voter registration.

U.S. Marshals

Federal law enforcement protecting voter registration efforts.

Penalties for Obstruction

Consequences for hindering voter registration processes.

Privatization

Shifting government functions to private sector entities.

Decentralization

Distributing authority away from central government.

Performance Incentives

Motivations for improved efficiency and effectiveness.

Contractors

Private companies hired to perform government tasks.

Regulation History

Evolution of government oversight from minimal to extensive.

Deregulation

Reduction or elimination of government rules.

Motivation for Deregulation

Cost savings and efficiency improvements.

Iron Triangle

Relationship between industry, Congress, and agencies.

Agency Heads

Leaders appointed to manage government agencies.

Executive Orders

Directives from the president with legal force.

Congressional Control

Methods Congress uses to oversee bureaucracy.

Oversight Hearings

Congressional sessions to monitor agency actions.

Bureaucracy

Administrative system managing government functions.

Unelected Policymaking Institutions

Bureaucracy and courts making policy decisions.

Regulated Industry's Interest Groups

Organizations advocating for specific industry interests.

Congressional Committees

Groups in Congress overseeing specific policy areas.

Responsive to Public Interest

Bureaucracy's obligation to serve citizen needs.

Bureaucracy and Democracy

Bureaucracy's role in a democratic government.

Acquisitive Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy seeking to expand its power.

Federal Bureaucracy Growth

Federal bureaucracy has shrunk over 40 years.

Deregulation Consequences

Potential risks of reducing regulatory oversight.

Reorganize Agencies

Changing structure or function of government departments.

Alter Agency Budgets

Changing financial allocations for government agencies.

Paradoxical Relationship

Congress's conflicting roles in bureaucracy management.

Industry Lobbyists

Individuals advocating for industry interests in government.

Scope of Government

Extent of government involvement in society.

Bureaucracy's Role

Addressing social and economic challenges.

Death of an Iron Triangle

Collapse of established regulatory relationships.