The Bureaucrats A bureaucrat is someone who works

The Bureaucrats § A bureaucrat is someone who works for the government, carrying out policy. § Civil Servant: permanent employee of the government § Most demographically representative part of government. § Diversity of jobs mirrors the private sector. § President only appoints 3%

Who are the “Bureaucrats? ” § § § 97% are career government employees Only 10% live in the D. C. area 30% work for the D. O. D. Less than 15% work for social welfare agencies Most are white collar workers: secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congress

The Bureaucrats The Plum Book § Published by Congress. § Lists the very top jobs available for Presidential appointment. § Presidents work to find capable people to fill the positions. § Some plum jobs (ambassadorships) are patronage.

The Weberian Model Hierarchical authority structure § Uses task specialization § Operate on the merit principle § Behave with impersonality § A well-organized machine with lots of working parts. §

Four Categories of Bureaucracy § The Cabinet Departments § 15 Cabinet departments § 14 headed by a secretary § Department of Justice headed by Attorney General § Each has its own budget, staff and policy areas § Republicans have been trying to eliminate several departments

Four Categories of Bureaucracies Regulatory Agencies Independent: Responsible for some sector of the economy making rules and judging disputes to protect the public interest. § Headed by a commission of 5 -10 people. § Rule making is an important function watched by interest groups and citizens alike. § EPA, SEC §

Four Categories of Bureaucracies Government Corporations Business like- provide a service like private companies and typically charges for its services Postal Service, Amtrak are examples Independent Executive Agencies The agencies that don’t fit anywhere else NASA is an example

Implementation k. Translating the goals and objectives of a law passed by Congress into an operating, ongoing program. i It includes: k. Creating / assigning an agency the policy k. Turning policy into regulations. k. Coordinating resources to achieve the goals. k. Getting feedback and revising regulations.

Why Policies Succeed § A Case Study: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Had a clear, concise goal (increase registration and turnout rates among African Americans). § The implementation was clear (send Federal Marshals to the South). § Those carrying out the law had obvious authority and vigor to do so. §

Criticism of Bureaucracy I. RED TAPE § too many rigid procedures § too many policies with no flexibility for special circumstances § too many forms to fill out, lines to wait II. INEFFICIENCY § lack of incentive to be productive III. DUPLICATION OF SERVICES § bureaucracy is so complicated § agencies are performing similar or sometimes the same functions (Dept. of Commerce overlaps with Dept. of Agriculture, GSA overlaps with Dept. of Interior, etc. ) § federalism makes this more complicated--many services are provided at both the state and national levels.

Criticisms Continued IV. BUREAUCRACY IS LAW MAKER § regulations end up having the effect of law. § duty of implementing laws often allows bureaucrats to interpret those laws. V. BUREAUCRACY IS TOO BIG § privatization would be more effective VI. BUREAUCRACY MAY BE CORRUPT § iron triangle -the relationship between the Executive branch, Congress, and interest groups can lead to policymaking decisions which benefit private interests at the expense of the public good.

Understanding Bureaucracies § Bureaucracy and Democracy § Iron Triangles and Issue Networks A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. § Exist independently of each other. § They are tough, but not impossible, to eliminate § Some argue they are being replaced by wider issue networks that focus on more policies. §

Iron Triangle