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33 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Impossible to have modern government without bureaucracy
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it’s the most efficient way of getting people to work together on tasks of large magnitude. Things like the space program, social security, interstate highways and the postal service would not be possible without bureaucracy.
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Bureaucracy
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a system of organization and control that is based on three priniciples.
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Characteristics of bureaucracy: Hierarchy
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a chain of command where the officials and units at the top of a bureaucracy have authority over those in the middle, who in turn control those at the bottom. It speeds action by reducing conflict over the power to make decisions. Those higher up in the organization have authority over those at the bottom
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Characteristics of bureaucracy: specialization
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refers to explicitly defined duties for each job position and to precise division of labor within the organization. Yields efficiency because it has each individual concentrates on a particular job and become proficient at the tasks it involves.
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Characteristics of bureaucracy: procedures
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the established procedures and regulations by which bureaucracy conducts its operations. The rules allow workers to make quick and consistent judgments because the decisions are based on preset rules rather than a case-by-case.
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Cabinet departments
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head of dept is the secretary also the president’s cabinet. Vary in visibility, size and importance. Responsibility for a general policy area like defense or law enforcement. The responsibility is carried out within each dept by certain operating units.
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Independent agencies
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resemble the cabinet depts but a have a smaller area of responsibility. Heads are appointed by and report to the president but aren’t members of the cabinet. Exist apart from the cabinet depts. Because their placement in dept would cause conflict
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Regulatory agencies
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created when Congress has need for ongoing regulation of a particular economic activity.
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Independent Regulatory Agencies
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Legislative and judicial functions-develop law-like regulations and then judge whether individuals or organizations are complying with them. Can impose fines and other penalties on business firms that violate the rules.
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Government Corporations
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similar to private corporations in that they charge clients for their services and are governed by a board of directors. They receive federal funding to help defray operating expenses and directors are appointed by the president with Senate approval.
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Federal 2.5 million civilian employees
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Have to score high on a competitive exam or have specialized training. The system is overseen by 2 independent agencies. Office of Personna Management supervises hiring and job classification of federal employees. Merit Service Protection Board hears appeal sfrom career civil servants who have been fired or face other disciplinary.
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Merit system – 90%- how employees are hired.
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Have to score high on a competitive exam or have specialized training. The system is overseen by 2 independent agencies. Office of Personna Management supervises hiring and job classification of federal employees. Merit Service Protection Board hears appeal sfrom career civil servants who have been fired or face other disciplinary.
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Hatch Act of 1939
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prohibited partisan activities of civil servants from holding key jobs in election campaigns.
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Patronage system-spoils system
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governed federal employment during 19th century. Post election practice of filling administrative officvces with people who had supported the wining party. Jackson- a way to tie administration of govt to the people it served. It’s a device for the awarding of govt jobs to friends and party hacks.
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Number of civilian federal employees
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more than 90% of federal workforce
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Merit system and neutral competence
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employees are hired and retained on their basis of their skills and it is “neutral” because employees are not partisan appointees and are expected to be of service to everyone, not just those who support the incumbent president. Contributes to impartial and proficient administration. Has its own biases and inefficiencies.
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Agency point of view
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responsive to the needs of the agency in which they work. Perspective. Outlook comes naturally to most high-ranking cvivil servants. Distorts govt priorities, bureaucrats have little choice but to look out for their agency’s interests. Agencies are forced to play politics if they want to protect their programs.
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Source of bureaucratic power: specialized knowledge
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expertise- agencies rely on specialized knowledge, the support of their interests that benefit from their programs and backing of the president and Congress. Info and knowledge provide by bureaucrats. They spend their careers working in a particular policy area and have training. Congress acquire expertise but lack training so they rely on administrators for policy advice. Influence policy with expertise.
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Source of bureaucratic power: clientele groups
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a federal agency corresponding with a major interest and benefit directly from the agency’s programs. Can be counted on to lobby Congress and the prez on behalf of the agency when its program s and funding are being reviewed. Help when agency is threatened with cuts or elimination. Can be expected to protect its agency, agency will work to protect the group.
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Source of bureaucratic power: close ties with COngress/ prez
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use experts to develop programs that further an objective. Agencies that benefit key voting blocs are more likely to have congressional support.
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Bureaucratic accountability
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the degree to which bureaucrats are held accountable for the power they exercise. Accountable directly to the public. Some agencies are required to hold public hearings before issuing new regulations. Occurs largely though the prez, Congress and courts.
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Accountability through the prez
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have launched broad initiatives aimed to make the bureaucracy more responsive. Can intervene more directly through executive orders to force agencies to pursue particular administrative actions. Don’t have the time or knowledge to exercise personal oversight of the federal bureaucracy.
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Management tools-reorganization
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improve the bureaucracy’s performance. It had to happen because miscommunication was the reason for tragedies in the US. Ex: 9/11
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Appointments
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prez relies on them. Top positions in every agency. Influence greatest in agencies that have substantial discretionary authority. Stays on job for less than 2 years before moving to new employment.
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Accountability though Congress
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sole authority over executive agencies and is the source of each agency’s programs abd funding. Power of the purse- authority over spending.
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Control agency existence, authority, programs, funding
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consitutional authority over spending. Decides how much money will be used for agency programs. Can void an administrative decision though legislation that instructs the agency to follow a different course of action.
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Oversight function-
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involves monitoring the bureaucracy’s work to ensure its compliance with legislative intent. If an agency steps out of line they can call hearings to question them or take legislative action to correct the problem. GAO-agency that does a lot of this. Cannot correct things that have already happened. So to prevent mistakes they drafted more detailed laws.
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Can write laws that are very specific-
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enabling provisions that give administrators aauthority to implement the law. Specific instructions in provisions, limits their options.
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Sunset laws
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establish specific dates when all or part of a law will expire unless its extended by Congress. Method of countering the bureaucracy’s reluctance to give up outdated programs.
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Accountability through the courts
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overseen by judiciaryinjured party can bring suit against an agency if it fails to carry out a law properly. If court agrees it must change its policy. Intervene in agency decisions.
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Usually support agencies if action is reasonable-
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SC feels that agencies can apply a reasonable interpretation of statutes unless Congress has stipulated something to the contrary and that agencies in some instances have discretion in deciding whether to enforce statutes.
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Whistle-blowing-
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the act of reporting instances of officials of official mismanagement. a way to stop bureaucratic corruption. Whistleblower Protection Act-protect a whistleblowers from retaliation by their superiors and gives them a financial reward in cases where their information results in a savings to govt.
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Demographic representativeness
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even if true, agency point of view is –if civil servants were a demographic microcosm of the general public, they would treat the various groups and interests in society more responsibly. Similar demographic backgrounds but they differ markedly in their opinions about policy. Each group believes that the goals of its agency should be a top priority. Agency loyalty trumps demographics.
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