Ch.14: Bureaucracy in a Democracy Flashcards
complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization used by large institutions to coordinate work. be public or private
bureaucracy
department and agency efforts to translate laws into specific bureaucratic rules and actions
implementation
Agencies must submit proposed rules to public comment in advance
making rules & enforcing laws
prior to the 1880s, most federal jobs were given to political supporters of various officials until the next election.
Virtually no central bureaucracy at this time.
Most jobs were with the post office or the courts.
Simple jobs, often used to reward political supporters.
Spoil system
was assassinated by a man who was upset that he was not given a patronage position.
President Garfield
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, 1883
Covered positions must be obtained by passing an exam.
Civil servants cannot be fired without cause.
The basic operational unit is the ______.
Sometimes called a bureau, service, or administration
agency
Treated like any other bureaucratic agency, but exist outside the current departmental system
Usually have sweeping mandates
CIA, EPA, NASA
independent agency
Government corporations
Provide public services and, while chartered by the U.S. government, are highly independent
Have outside revenue sources
May or may not get funding at any time
Examples:
Amtrak, United States Postal Service, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Tennessee Valley Authority
Highly specialized rulemaking bodies that are supposed to be insulated from politics
Typically overseen by a board of commissioners appointed for fixed terms
independent regulatory commisions
The federal government either directly provides or works with states and the private sector to provide many services.
Examples:
Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid
Libraries, parks, hospitals
Service provision
Beneficiaries who can link into interest groups have a better time of seeing their programs grow. PROGRAM, ACCESS POINT, SUPPORT
Elderly, through AARP—Social Security
Veterans, through the VFW—veterans benefits
Children, via farm groups—WIC and SNAP (food stamps)
The poor generally have no interest group.
iron triangles
Agencies for internal security
the Department of Homeland Security, a massive restructuring of the U.S. national security bureaucracy.
Security, immigration services and enforcement, privacy law, transportation, and intelligence elements are linked in different ways within this agency.
External national security
Department of State
Employs diplomacy to make friends and marginalize enemies abroad
Department of Defense
Unified under the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a civilian secretary
the government’s use of taxation, monetary, and spending powers to manipulate the economy.
Fiscal policy
