CH 8 AP GOV

• Civil war and the growth of government

• From the spoils system to the Merit System

• Regulating Commerce

• World Wars and the Growth of Government

Permanent changes to the federal bureaucracy

• Department of Agriculture (1862)

• Pension office (1866)

• Department of justice (1870)

• Authorization of thousands of new employees.

Patronage system (Spoils system)

• Federal jobs given to loyal supporters

Merit System

• Jobs given according to ability

• Established by the Pendleton Act

Civil service system

• Covers more than 90 of federal employees.

New Agencies

• Interstate Commerce Commission (1887)

• Federal Trade Commission (1913)

• Department of Commerce and Labor split into two departments (1913)

Reaction to Economic Growth and Unfair Business Practices

16th Amendment (1913)

• Federal Income tax

Formal Organization of the Bureaucracy

• Formal Organization

• Government Workers and Political Involvement.

Cabinet Departments

• Secretaries

Independent Executive Agencies

• NASA

• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Independent Regulatory Commissions

• NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Government Corporations

• U.S Post Office

Hatch Act

• Limits federal employees’ political activities

Amendments to the Hatch Act

• Employees may run for office in nonpartisan elections

• Employees may donate to political organizations

• Employees may campaign for candidates while off-duty

Who are Bureaucrats?

• Most are part of the civil service system

  • Positions filed through competitive exams or rankings

• 10 Percent of workforce not part of civil service system

  • 3.5k presidential appointees

  • Independent regulatory commissioners

  • Low-level, non policy patronage positions

• Decentralization

• High Turnover in Key Positions.

IRON TRIANGLE - All work together to pass policies

Bureaucratic Agency

Congressional committees, subcommittees, staff Interest Groups, Lobbyist,                                           and Large corporations

Rule Making

• Quasi-Legislative process (Needs backing behind to punish and regulate lawbreakers.)

• Regulations have the force of law

• Administrative Procedures Act establishes process. 

Aminidstratic Adjuscation

• Quasi-judicial process

• Method of settling disputes between parties

Toward Reform: Making the Bureaucracy Accountable

Executive control - signs and enforces the law

Congressional Control - proposes the bill

Judicial Control - Can deem the law constitutional or unconstitutional

Executive Control

• Delegation of Power

  • Makes controlling bureaucracy difficult because of appointment

• Reorganization of the Bureaucracy

  • Requires congressional approval

• Executive Orders

  • Directions to agencies that have the force of law

Congressional Control

• Confirmation or Rejection of Agency Appointees

• Oversight and Investigations

  • Proactive or reactive

• Power of the purse

• Budget authorization

• Appropriations

Judicial Control

• Injunctions or Orders

  • Even before a rule is publicized

• Enforcement of due process rights

• Threat of litigation