AP Gov Unit 2B sec. 3 part 1

Max Weber's Definition of Bureaucracy

rational way for a modern society to conduct its business, way of organizing people to achieve a shared goal, has 3 main elements, work on merit principle and impersonality

3 Main Elements of Bureaucracy

hierarchical authority structure, task specialization, extensive rules

Hierarchical Authority Structure

power flows from the top down, responsibility flows from the bottom up

Task Specialization

experts instead of amateurs perform technical jobs

Extensive Rules

allow similar cases to be handled in similar ways, standard operating procedures

Merit Principle

entrance and promotion of job position are on the basis of demonstrated abilities (knowledge, education, skill), intended to produce administration by people with talent

Impersonality

all clients treated impartially (without favorites or special treatment)

Bureaucratic Agencies

created by Congress (sets budget and writes policies that are administered), responsible to the president, central problem of democratic government is how to manage/control these

Why are bureaucratic agencies responsible to the president?

due to the vague administrative responsibilities outlined in the constitution (that the law be faithfully executed)

Bureaucrats as Scapegoats

blamed for things that go wrong even if they are not necessarily at fault

Myths of Bureaucrats

americans dislike them, most work in DC, grow bigger each year, ineffective/inefficient/mired in red tape

Truths of Bureaucrats

americans are satisfied with them, fewer than 1 in 7 work in DC (work around country/world), government employees increase but not federal employees, very effective/efficient

Bureaucrat Jobs

possess crucial information/expertise as a party with Congress and president, perform most vital services provided by national government, vast majority of tasks are noncontroversial (not debated on, seen as necessary), have some discretion in carrying out policy decisions

Federal Employment

2.7 million civilians, 50%+ in department of defense, 28% in postal service, 253,000 in department of veterans affairs, remaining 25% is all other functions of government

Bureaucrats

more broadly representative of the american people, women and nonwhites are clustered in lower ranks

Patronage

hiring and promotion system based on knowing the right people, political reasons rather than merit/competence, key inducement used by party machines

Pendleton Civil Service Act

1883, created federal civil service and reformed the system to stop its spoiling and patronage practices

Present-Day Civil Service

most federal agencies are covered by some sort of civil service system, hiring is based on merit, follows merit principle, nonpartisan, and hatch act

Nonpartisan

means insulating government workers from the risk of being fired when a new party comes to power, separate from party policies

Hatch Act

prohibits employees from active participation in partisan politics while on duty or for employees in sensitive positions at any time (cannot demonstrate party affiliation on the job), ensures nonpartisan system

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

president appoints director confirmed by senate, in charge of hiring for most federal government agencies, uses elaborative rules, very top is senior executive service where employees have high salaries and move between agencies because of strong leadership skills

Elaborate Hiring Process in OPM

for each open position, every resume is reviewed to ensure no patronage and 3 names are sent to the agency for review, once a person is selected and hired, they are assigned a general schedule rating from GS1-GS18 depending on salary which depends on experience, after the probationary period they are protected and difficult to fire

Plum Book

other route to federal jobs (with senate confirmation), lists top federal jobs for direct presidential appointment, every president launches nationwide search to fill these and hires these officials

Plum Book Positions

combine executive talent/political skills/policy views similar top the president, in an effort to ensure diversity some positions go to large contributors, most stay for a short period and leave, difficult to exercise real control since subordinates are experts

Cabinet Departments

headed by secretaries appointed by president/approved by senate (except department of justice), manage specific policy areas with unique mission, each has own budget/staff, real work done in bureaus/offices

Independent Regulatory Commissions

responsible for some sector of economy, make/enforce rules designed to protect public interest and judging disputes over rules, governed by small commission appointed for fixed term and cannot be fired (insulated from political pressure), close connection between regulators/industries make them common to be recruited

Government Corporations

provide a service that could be handled by the private sector, charge for their services at a cheaper rate than a private sector

Government Corporation Examples

Amtrak, FDIC, USPS

Independent Executive Agencies

not part of cabinet departments and generally do not have regulator functions, perform specialized government functions, appointed by president and serve at his pleasure (can be fired)

Independent Executive Agency Examples

NASA, NSF