Study Guide for Chapter 15 Bureaucracy Quiz
What is true of independent
agencies? They operate outside the executive departments (cabinets), but are
nonetheless considered part of the executive branch of government. Three types
of independent agencies: independent executive agencies, independent regulatory
commissions, and government corporations. The Office of Personnel Management,
the Peace Corps and the Civil Rights Commission are examples of independent
executive agencies, which are "supposed" to be free from political
influence.
The Pendleton Act ended what
practice? The Pendleton Act of 1883 created a system in which federal employees
were chosen on the basis of competitive examinations, thus making merit, or
ability, the reason for hiring people to fill federal positions. (Ended spoils
system)
Max Weber describes bureaucracies
as how? "Followers of the noted German sociologist Max Weber contended
that a properly run bureaucracy could be a model of efficiency based on
rational and impartial management." (Burns 351) "Politics and public
administration should be carefully separated. Leave politics to Congress and
management to administrators who adhere to the laws passed by Congress."
Examples of independent regulatory
agencies: "Examples are the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Federal Reserve Board." (Burns 348) (Interstate Commerce Commission?)
Iron Triangle: A mutually
supporting relationship among interest groups, congressional committees and
subcommittees, and government agencies that share a common policy concern. Iron
triangles are composed of bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and
congressional committees. The iron triangle is characterized by mutual
dependency, in which each element provides key services, information, or policy
for the others. The concept is currently best illustrated by the tobacco
triangle, where a congressional committee, an bureaucratic (executive) agency,
and an interest group, i.e., the tobacco interests, all inform and stroke each
other to further their survival.
? The standards of conduct for
bureaucrats; i.e. Merit System review (Protection?) Board: "The Merit
System Protection Board is charged with protecting the integrity of the federal
merit system and the rights of federal employees." (Burns 346)
Office of Personnel Management
(OPM): Agency that administers civil service laws, rules, and regulations.
What president was most often
associated with the spoils system? The spoils system was largely defended by
President Andrew Jackson who believed that the largest number of citizens
should have the privilege of serving in government office, that any person of
"normal" intelligence was fit to hold any government position, and
that all government officials should belong to the party elected by the people.
Purpose of the Hatch Act: Federal
statute barring federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of
politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds. Revised in
1993 to permit most federal civil servants to hold party positions and involve
themselves in party fundraising and campaigning.
Almost half of all civilian
federal government workers are employed by what types of agencies? "More
than 25% of the civilian employees work for the army, the navy, the air force,
or some other defense agency; another 30 percent work for the U.S. Postal
Service." (Burns 346)
Who do federal administrators have
the least contact with? Federal administrators have the least contact with the
President.
How does Congress control the
bureaucracy? "by establishing agencies, formulating budgets, appropriating
funds, confirming personnel, authorizing new programs or new shifts in
direction, conducting investigations and hearings, reorganizing authority, and
rebuking officials." (Burns 357)
How do government corporations
differ from other agencies of the bureaucracy? "Government corporations,
such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, are a cross between business corporations and regular
government agencies. Government corporations were designed to make possible a freedom
of action and flexibility not always found in the regular agencies. These
corporations have been freed from certain regulations of the Office of
Management and Budget and the comptroller general. They also have more leeway
in using their own earnings." (Burns 348) Greater freedom of action and
flexibility for a particular program.
?When were regulatory agencies
created? think???? (Apparently this one is linked to next term)
Progressive era: Late 1800’s. ICC
and misconduct. (Talked with Wally on this one)
What two events in American
History are most responsible for the creation of the federal bureaucracy? The
New Deal and World War 2. Wartime production, EPA, Department of
Transportation.
Until the late 1800's government bureaucracies existed mostly to benefit whom? The President's friends and political supporters
Characteristics of the
Bureaucracy: "Bureaucracy's chief characteristics are continuity,
predictability, impartiality, standard operating procedures, and the inevitable
'red tape'" (Burns 343); large, complex administrative structure; a
hierarchical organization with job specialization and complex rules. By
definition, it is not privately owned. The bureaucracy is based on the
principle of hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formal rules.
Merit really has nothing to do with it.
Advantages bureaucrats have over
the President in policy making. Little or no checks and balances; virtually no
separation of powers (quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial)
Why are independent regulatory
commissions created? These commissions are created to regulate important aspects
of the nation's economy and are intended to be isolated from political
influence.
? The loyalties of cabinet members
are often strained with the Presidents, why? While the president expects
loyalty from his appointed cabinet members, the agency employees expect their
chief to look out for them, and thus, cabinet members are also responsible for
their staff and the work of the department, including the organizations their
departments serve.
? Differences between Cabinet
officers and independent agencies: Cabinet members can be fired by the
President. Heads of the independent regulatory commissions CANNOT be removed by
the President at will.
Notes: