Bureaucracy Unit

What is a bureaucracy?

A large complex organization (where a lot of people make lots of rules)

What goes under the government’s bureaucracy

Cabinet, Executive Office of the President, Civil Servants

How many federal employees do we have TODAY?

2.9 million employees

how many federal employees in 1792

780 employees

What’s unique about the US’s Bureaucracy?

Power & Authority is not concentrated in one set of hands (but shared among several institutions)

How is the Parliamentary System bureaucracy different?

Prime Minister → Cabinet Ministers → Bureaucrats (political authority is concentrated in one set of hands) [top-down system]

How does the Presidential System Bureaucracy work?

Presidents ← Bureaucrats → Congress (has more power to interpret)

What are the consequences of the Presidential System Bureaucracy?

Gives bureaucrats have the power to do what they want (can be used corruptly for self gain)

In a Presidential System of Bureaucracy, if the Bureaucrats want something to happen, who do they go to?

To the body that would give them a better likelihood of getting permission (either President or Congress over the other)

What are the advantages of a Presidential System Bureaucracy?

Layer of checks and balances to not have one person all in power

What type of System is a Parliamentary System

More unitary (they decide what to do and carry it out) [hierarchy]

How is the Presidential System of Bureaucracy processing different then the unitary Parliamentary System

most federal agencies share functions with state and local governments (give more independent authority to states and locals)

How is the American System of Bueaucracy different in decision making

growth of an “adversary culture” where more government decisions are challenged than any other government

What was the first task of the Congress

to approve of a Department of State

What were the 6 words that caused controversy for approving the Department of State

to be removed by the President

How did George Washington’s claim of of only hiring people “as shall be the best quality” not be actualized

Most of his employees belonged to the Federalist Party (the one he leaned towards)

This continued as tradition (patronage)

Andrew Jackson entrenched the patronage with something called

Spoils

What saying did Andrew Jackson state in favor of the “spoils” system of patronage

“to the victor go the spoils”

How did Andrew Jackson defend the “spoils” system of patronage

he said the spoils system brought greater rotation in office. He thought it was healthy to clear out the government workers who had worked for predecessors, lest they become corrupt.

What is the Red Tape problem with Bureaucracies

There are countless procedures that need to be completed. These complex procedures required consistency causing red tape (immense complexity, process fatigue, grid lock)

What is the issue of Conflict in bureaucracies

Agencies who have conflicting goals (increasing output or intentional decrease in production for increase of demand)

What is the issue of duplication in Bureaucracies

campaigning about making a agency of doing the same thing looks good for their image and change of re-election of the congressman

What is the problem with Imperialism in Bureaucracies

Tendency of agencies to grow without regard to the benefits they offer or the costs they entail. This is due to vagueness in legislation.

What is the waste problem in bureaucracies?

Spending way more money than is necessary. (due to no incentive, purchases of new or 1-of-a-kind technology, and rules ensuring fairness)

What is the President’s relationship towards Bureaucracy

• Appointment of Leadership

• Helps Guide Budget

• Reform and Organize the Bureaucracy

• Initiate or Adjust Policies

• Executive Orders

What is the Bureaucracies relationship towards President

• They have little power over the President

• Most are protected by Civil Service System

What is the relationship of Congress towards Bureaucracy

• Create New Agencies

• Senate — Approval for Appointments

• Shape Programs

• Budget: Appropriation (how much you have to spend) / Authorization (how much you want to spend)

• Maintain Civil Service System

• Place Constraints on Bureucracy

What is the relationship of the Bureaucracy towards Congress

• Testify and Reports to Committees

• Maintain Congressional Liaisons

What percentage of Bureaucratic Hires are Civil Service

85%

What percentage of Bureaucratic Hires are Expected Service

15%

What is the relationship between the Judiciary Branch towards the Bureaucracy

Interpretation of Congressional Laws

What is the relationship from the Bureaucracy towards the Judiciary Branch

Can appeal rulings of the courts