CE

Chapter#15 - The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy: Definition and Role

  • Bureaucracy, also known as the Fourth Branch of Government, is an organization with a hierarchical structure and specific responsibilities intended to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government.
  • Examples and functions:
    • Internal Revenue Service (IRS): an agency in the federal bureaucracy that carries out national tax laws through the collection of income taxes.
    • Agencies determine whether and how policies are implemented and how policies affect Americans through their actions or inactions.
    • Some agencies provide concrete services (e.g., VA hospitals).
    • Other agencies regulate activities and enterprises (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency, EPA) to ensure standards (e.g., air and water pollution).

Examples of Federal Bureaucracies

  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Commerce
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Department of Defense
  • Department of Education
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Federal Housing Finance Agency
  • Department of Energy
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Social Security Administration
  • Peace Corps
  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Labor
  • National Science Foundation
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • Department of State
  • Department of Transportation
  • Farm Credit Administration
  • Federal Reserve System
  • Department of Treasury
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Office of Personnel Management
  • United States Postal Service

Characteristics of Bureaucracies

  • Execute public policies.
  • Size:
    • Approximately 64{,}000 people work in the legislative and judicial branches.
    • About 2.7\times 10^6 employees work in bureaucracies.
  • Diversity of Purpose:
    • Examples include NASA (satellites) and FTC (protecting consumers from deceptive advertising): both public services performed by distinct bureaucracies.
  • Location/Building:
    • Landmark buildings include the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court, but bureaucracies generally do not have landmark buildings of their own.
  • Anonymity:
    • The president and Supreme Court receive extensive public visibility; most bureaucrats work with relative privacy, and their names/roles are often unknown to most citizens aside from highly visible cabinet secretaries.

Types of Bureaucracies

  • Departments: 15 federal departments responsible for specific policy areas; heads are usually secretaries and serve in the president's cabinet.
    • Examples include the Department of State.
    • Cabinet members report to the president on department activities.
    • Historical note: President George Washington had four departments in his cabinet (State, War, Justice, Treasury); Congress later created new departments as circumstances changed.
  • Independent Agencies: federal agencies with narrow responsibilities for a specific policy issue not covered by the 15 departments.
    • Examples: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Peace Corps, Social Security Administration.
  • Government Corporations: agencies with independent boards that generate revenue through sales of products/services, fees, or insurance premiums, intended to run like private corporations.
    • Examples: National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and United States Postal Service (USPS).

President Joe Biden’s Cabinet Members

  • Kamala Harris — Vice President
  • Marty Walsh — Secretary of Labor
  • Antony Blinken — Secretary of State
  • Dr. Miguel Cardona — Secretary of Education
  • Dr. Janet Yellen — Secretary of the Treasury
  • Denis McDonough — Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  • Lloyd Austin — Secretary of Defense
  • Alejandro Mayorkas — Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Merrick Garland — Attorney General
  • Michael Regan — Administrator of the EPA
  • Deb Haaland — Secretary of the Interior
  • Avril Haines — Director of National Intelligence
  • Tom Vilsack — Secretary of Agriculture
  • Katherine Tai — United States Trade Representative
  • Gina Raimondo — Secretary of Commerce
  • Linda Thomas-Greenfield — United States Ambassador to the United Nations
  • Xavier Becerra — Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Dr. Cecilia Rouse — Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
  • Marcia Fudge — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
  • Isabel Guzman — Administrator of the Small Business Administration
  • Pete Buttigieg — Secretary of Transportation
  • Ron Klain — Chief of Staff
  • Jennifer Granholm — Secretary of Energy

3 Goals of Bureaucracies

  • Promote the public welfare:
    • Many federal agencies provide services, build infrastructure, and enforce regulations aimed at enhancing the well-being of the vast majority of citizens, not only the very poor.
  • Providing National Security:
    • Departments such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice contribute to national security.
  • Maintaining a strong economy:
    • In a capitalist system, the government does not directly run the economy, but government activities are critical to stability.
    • Example: The IRS collects private resources to fund public purposes.

4 Advantages of Bureaucracies

  • Standardization:
    • A common set of rules, benefits, and services allows uniform delivery, avoiding differential treatment of citizens.
    • Example: An Idaho retiree with a given age and employment history receives the same federal benefits as a retiree in Maine.
  • Expertise and Competence:
    • Agencies hire specialists who focus on specific policy areas, developing deep expertise over time.
    • Example: EPA employees often have education/interest in environmental issues and gain subject-matter expertise through long-term work.

4 Advantages of Bureaucracies (continued)

  • Accountability:
    • Congress allocates a specified budget and monitors results for targeted policy areas.
    • Example: If 50{,}000{,}000 is allocated to combat air pollution, the EPA directs funds to targeted areas, and Congress/president evaluate effectiveness after spending.
  • Coordination:
    • Clear responsibilities and hierarchical structure help different agencies work together.
    • Example: Education and Health and Human Services cooperate to implement an anti-drug program or teen pregnancy prevention, with leaders delegating shared responsibilities.

Public Image and Criticism of Bureaucracy

  • The common American view often questions efficiency and sees bureaucracies as large, slow, and paper-pushing organizations.
  • Notable inefficiency example: Department of Defense spending 640 per toilet seat.
  • Negative image is heightened when people experience late Social Security checks or denied Medicare benefits.
  • Overall, the public often resents bureaucracies when services are delayed or denied, despite expectations that government should serve the people.

5 Problems with Bureaucracies

  • Red tape: complex rules and procedures delay action.
  • Conflict: agencies may pursue conflicting goals (e.g., DEA reducing drug supply vs. CIA supporting drug smuggling activities, in some cases).
  • Duplication: multiple agencies perform similar functions (e.g., Customs vs. DEA in drug interdiction).
  • Waste: spending more than necessary; little incentive for government employees to reduce costs since savings may not accrue to the employee or agency.
  • Slowness: large decision-making processes with many stakeholders make dramatic change rare.

3 Reforms for Bureaucracies

  • Termination:
    • A rare form of reform; historically, even during Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, none of the agencies or programs were terminated.
    • The difficulty lies in public demand for benefits and services even if people distrust government.
  • Devolution:
    • Reduces federal bureaucracy size by delegating program implementation to state/local governments (e.g., welfare reform).
    • Opponents argue it reduces government's ability to address inequality because states may not be able to run deficits and may cut program spending if funds are scarce.
    • Proponents argue it provides more efficient and flexible government services.
  • Privatization:
    • Public services provided by a private company but funded by the government.
    • Example: During wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the government hired private firms for food services, transportation of supplies, and bodyguards for officials.
    • All levels of government use private contracts to save money.
    • Controversies include accountability challenges due to different oversight laws for private firms, as well as risks of favoritism and corruption through campaign contributions and private networks.

Connections, Ethics, and Real-World Relevance

  • Bureaucracies implement and enforce public policy, linking legislative intent to real-world outcomes.
  • The balance between efficiency (standardization, expertise) and accountability (budgets, evaluations) is central to public administration.
  • Privatization and devolution reflect debates about centralization vs. local control, efficiency vs. equity, and the role of government in providing services.
  • The ethical implications of privatization include accountability gaps and potential inequities if private firms prioritize profits over public needs.
  • Real-world relevance: understanding how agencies coordinate, regulate, and deliver services helps explain policy outcomes and citizen experiences with Social Security, Medicare, EPA regulations, and national security.