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Chapter 13

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Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy

Initially small: 3,000 employees in 1800Federal government’s role confined

DefenseForeign affairsCurrencyInterstate commerceDelivery of mail

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Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy

Dramatic growth in latter part of 1800s in response to economic growthDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of Commerce and Labor

Biggest growth spurt in the 1930s in response to the Great DepressionSEC, SSA, FDIC, TVA

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Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy

Types of federal agenciesCabinet departments

Fifteen departments: State, Defense, Justice, etc.Independent agencies

Narrower area of responsibility: CIA, NASA, etc.Regulatory agencies

SEC, EPA, etc.

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Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy

Types of federal agenciesGovernment corporations

USPS, FDIC, Amtrak, etc.Presidential commissions

Permanent commissions: Civil Rights, Fine ArtsTemporary: Bush’s Commission to Strengthen Social

Security

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Origin and Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy

Federal employment2,500,000 civilian employeesMost hired by merit criteriaPatronage system—designed to improve link between

administration and the peopleAbuses—spoils system

Merit systemNeutral competence

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The Budgetary ProcessYear and a half long; begins with presidential guidelinesAgencies develop detailed budget; president finalizes with

OMBCongress alters through budget and appropriations

committees; full House and Senate votePresident signs or vetoes

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Policy and Power in the Bureaucracy

Administrative agencies’ chief task: policy implementationWide discretion in some areasRulemakingOriginating policy ideas

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Policy and Power in the Bureaucracy

The agency point of viewComes naturally to high-ranking civil servantsCemented by professionalismDistorts government prioritiesAgency must seek support wherever it can find it

President; Congress; political partiesAgencies are forced to play politics

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Policy and Power in the Bureaucracy

Sources of bureaucratic power1. Expertise

2. Clientele groupsReciprocal relationship

1. Friends in high placesAgency goals may conflict with president or Congress,

but they still need agency expertise and competency.

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Democracy and Bureaucratic Accountability

Accountability through the presidencyReorganizationPresidential appointmentsOMB: budgets, regulations, and legislative proposals

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Democracy and Bureaucratic Accountability

Accountability through CongressThe “power of the purse”Oversight function; increased use of GAOWays to constrain the bureaucracy before it acts

Drafting laws with specific instructions for implementation

Sunset provisions

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Democracy and Bureaucratic Accountability

Accountability through the courtsAn injured party can bring suit against an agency

Accountability within the bureaucracy itselfSenior Executive Service (SES)Administrative law judgesWhistleblowingDemographic representativeness

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