BUREAUCRACY AND IRON TRIANGLES BUREAUCRACY DEFINED The word

BUREAUCRACY AND IRON TRIANGLES

BUREAUCRACY DEFINED The word “bureaucracy” literally means “government with a small desk”. French word in reference to the king’s officials who worked at small desks to go about the king’s business. Today Bureaucracy is a large administrative organization that handles the day to day business of a government. § Operates on national, state, and local levels.

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF BUREAUCRACIES A clear hierarchy: firm chain of command with everyone’s work being overseen by someone on the next level up. Specialization: everyone has a specific job and becomes an expert on that job.

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF BUREAUCRACIES A division of Labor: every task is broken down into component parts and different people work on different pieces of the task. A set of formal rules: clear, written instructions for each job at each level of the hierarchy.

FUNCTIONS OF BUREAUCRACY Implements the laws and policies made by elected officials. Provides necessary administrative functions (issuing licenses, collecting fees etc. ) Regulates various government activities

TYPES OF BUREAUCRACIES The Cabinets Departments: § Each has a special area of policy Government Corporations: § Don’t belong to a departments, businesses created by Congress § Post Office Regulatory Agencies: § Regulate parts of the economy and make rules for large industry to follow § The watch dogs: SEC Independent Agencies: § Similar to cabinet but smaller and less complex. § Narrower areas of responsibility § NASA

INTEREST GROUPS Interest Groups: a large body of people interested in a common idea, issue or policy that push for legislative action and support. The tactics these interest groups use to enact change is known as lobbying.

IRON TRIANGLES A mutually beneficial, three way relationship between Congress, government bureaucrats and special interest lobby groups.

CONGRESS AND THE BUREAUCRAT Bureaucrats depend on funding given to them/their agency by Congress. In return Congress knows if they give the Bureaucrats funding, they receive support on legislation.

CONGRESS AND LOBBYIST Congress needs help on re-election, if he/she pledges support for programs that lobbyists work for. Lobbyists need Congressional reps to pass legislation so they offer up help and funding for reelection.

BUREAUCRAT AND LOBBYIST Lobbyist pledges support for the bureaucrat’s department. Bureaucrat agrees to lighten up on regulations towards lobbyists groups.