The Federal Bureaucracy
- Created by: maryam
- Created on: 23-11-15 09:07
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- The Federal Bureaucracy
- Components
- The federal bureaucracy grew during the 20th century – as the size of the federal government expanded – was brought about by a number of developments.
- -The federal bureaucracy is the administrative system of the nation government that carries out policy – also an over excessive red tape, delay, over-manning, inefficiency and waste.
- -By 2006 – it had 2,720, 688 civilian employees – these employees aren’t all in Washington – only 11% of federal civil servants work in Washington.
- -The federal bureaucracy is spread throughout the country – almost every city has a headquarters.
- -the federal bureaucracy can be split into four broad categories – executive departments (there are 15), executive agencies, independent regulatory agencies and government corporations.
- Functions
- Creating rules
- -legislators usually only establish the broad principles of policy – it is left to the federal bureaucracy to write the specific rules that decide how laws will be executed.
- -The growing complexity of society had led to the greater need for specialist bureaucrats to create specific rules – it is in this function that the regulatory commissions of the federal government play a significant role.
- Adjudication
- executing laws and carrying out rules – disputes will arise
- -One
party will consider that a law is not being applied enough, while the other
will consider that it needs to be applied more or isn’t being done fairly.
- -It is therefore the job of the federal bureaucracy to adjudicate in such disputes.
- Creating rules
- Cons
- Clientelism
- -agencies tend to sever the interests of
those who they are suppose to be overseeing.
- -This is seen as a particular problem with the regulatory commissions – these are watchdog agencies but often turn into lapdogs – special interests are protected at the expense of public interest.
- -agencies tend to sever the interests of
those who they are suppose to be overseeing.
- Imperialism
- agencies
want to expend their powers and responsibilities and will do this at the
expense of other agencies
- -Political interest will become dominant, sometimes regardless of public opinion.
- -Imperialism sometimes manifests itself in ‘turf battles’ – who has jurisdiction over which policy area.
- agencies
want to expend their powers and responsibilities and will do this at the
expense of other agencies
- Parochialism
- -agencies will tend to focus on their own
goals rather than the ‘big picture’ – or on the administration as a whole.
- -Department interest usually gets priority at the expense of the nation interest.
- -agencies will tend to focus on their own
goals rather than the ‘big picture’ – or on the administration as a whole.
- Instrumentalism
- -most of the agencies in the federal
bureaucracy act slowly and cautiously – not liking change.
- -This can be frustrating for a new president who wants to introduce radical policy change.
- -They are seen as very conservative and too resistant to change.
- -most of the agencies in the federal
bureaucracy act slowly and cautiously – not liking change.
- Arbitrariness
- -when applying rules and regulations – the concerns and merits of those who will be effected are often ignored.
- -The bureaucracy is often seen as inhuman and over-committed to the form and process.
- Waste
- -their size and dedication to routine often mean that they use resources less efficiently than private sector organisations.
- e.g. $16 for muffin, very high salaries despite recession
- Iron triangles
- -this
is the strong relationship between three bodies; special interests (usually
pressure groups), the relevant congressional committee and the relevant agency.
- -This
can often result in policies being made and executed to the mutual benefit of
those three bodies – excluding public interest. – this had a negative effect on
the process.
- -Eg. defence contractors, the House and Senate Armed services Committees and the Defence Department – this iron triangle resulted in a large national defence budget.
- -This
can often result in policies being made and executed to the mutual benefit of
those three bodies – excluding public interest. – this had a negative effect on
the process.
- -this
is the strong relationship between three bodies; special interests (usually
pressure groups), the relevant congressional committee and the relevant agency.
- Going native
- -There is always a fear in the White House that political appointees in the federal bureaucracy ‘going native’ this means that rather than imposing the president’s wishes they start to resist his changes.
- Inefficiency
- -this
is a widespread belief – many think this is largely because the pay of a civil
servant is determined more by length of service than the quality of their work.
- -Eg. this is shown clearly in the response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005.
- -this
is a widespread belief – many think this is largely because the pay of a civil
servant is determined more by length of service than the quality of their work.
- Clientelism
- Pros
-
Act
as a check on the President
- If departments went along with the President rather than fighting their corner, then the country would change massively every four to eight years
-
Act
as a check on the President
- Components
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