American Government - The Bureaucracy - Quick Guides

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Study GuideAmerican Government–The Bureaucracy1.CharacterisƟcs of a BureaucracyAbureaucracyis a way of organizing large and complex institutions. Its main purpose is to helporganizations achieve specific goals in an orderly and efficient way. In a bureaucracy, every job,responsibility, and task exists for a reason.You can find bureaucracies at all levels of government—federal, state, county, and city. Large privatecompanies also use bureaucratic structures. People who work in these systems are calledbureaucrats. This includes everyone from top-level managers and executives to office staff. Forexample, in a large public school district, the superintendent, teachers, librarians, nurses, and evensecurity guards are all considered bureaucrats.1.1Why Bureaucracy OŌen Gets a Bad ReputaƟonThe wordsbureaucratandbureaucracyoften sound negative. Many people associate them with longforms, long lines, and slow service. This frustration is usually blamed onred tape, which refers toexcessive paperwork and procedures that make simple tasks take much longer than necessary.Even though this image is common, bureaucracy plays an important role. Large government agenciesand organizations would not be able to function properly without some form of bureaucratic structure.1.2Key Features of All BureaucraciesDespite differences among organizations, all bureaucracies share a few basic characteristics. Thesefeatures are designed to keep the organization running smoothly, especially when things are workingwell.1.2.1. SpecializaƟonIn a bureaucracy, workers performspecialized tasks. Each person is trained to do a specific job anddevelop expertise in that area. This specialization helps workers complete their tasks efficiently andaccurately.

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Study GuideHowever, specialization also has a drawback. Bureaucrats are often not allowed—or may refuse—toperform tasks outside their official job description. This is sometimes called not being willing to “workout of class,” even when helping out might solve a problem more quickly.1.2.2. Hierarchical OrganizaƟonBureaucracies are organized into ahierarchy, which means there are clear levels of authority. Theselevels range from entry-level workers at the bottom to top executives at the top.Each level has defined duties and powers. Workers report to supervisors, supervisors report tomanagers, and managers report to executives. This structure helps maintain order and accountabilitywithin the organization.1.2.3. Formal RulesBureaucracies operate according toformal rules. These rules explain how tasks should beperformed at each level of the organization. They are often calledstandard operating procedures(SOPs)and are written down in manuals or guidelines.By following these rules, bureaucrats can make decisions quickly and consistently, without having torethink every situation from scratch.1.3Challenges Within BureaucraciesEven though bureaucracies are designed to be efficient, they can face problems. A strong focus onspecialization may cause workers to miss issues outside their area of expertise. If a problem arises ina different department, they may not recognize it or feel responsible for addressing it.The hierarchical structure can also limit communication. Lower-level employees may hesitate toquestion decisions made by supervisors. At the same time, top managers may not realize that aproblem exists several levels below them. As a result, important issues can go unnoticed orunresolved.In SummaryBureaucracies are essential for managing large organizations. Their use of specialization, hierarchy,and formal rules helps maintain order and efficiency. However, these same features can also createchallenges, especially when flexibility and communication are limited. Understanding both thestrengths and weaknesses of bureaucracy helps explain how large organizations function in the realworld.

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Study Guide2.The Growth of the Federal BureaucracyThe federal bureaucracy did not begin as the large system we know today. It started small and grewover time as the responsibilities of the federal government expanded.In 1789, President George Washington created justthree cabinet departmentsto help run the newnation. Since then, the federal government has grown dramatically. Today, the cabinet includes manymore departments, along with hundreds ofagencies, bureaus, government corporations,authorities, and administrations. Together, these organizations handle the day-to-day business ofthe federal government.2.1The Nature of the Civil ServiceIn this chapter,civil servicerefers to the civilian employees who work for the federal government.In the early years of the United States, especially through the 1820s, wealthy men dominatedgovernment jobs. This changed whenAndrew Jacksonwas elected president in 1828. Jacksonbelieved that ordinary citizens should have access to government positions. As a result, he introducedthespoils system, in which government jobs were given to people who were loyal to the politicalparty in power rather than to those with experience or skill.This practice marked the beginning ofpatronage, a system that lasted through much of the 19thcentury. Over time, many people criticized patronage because it often led to inefficiency andcorruption.To fix these problems, Congress passed thePendleton Act in 1883. This law created amerit-basedsystem, meaning federal workers were hired based on their qualifications instead of political loyalty. Italso protected employees from being fired simply because a new administration took office.Later, Congress passed theHatch Act in 1939to help keep the bureaucracy nonpartisan. This lawbanned federal employees from running for political office or actively campaigning for candidates.While these rules limit some civil liberties, many believe they are necessary to maintain a professionaland politically neutral federal workforce.2.2The Rise of the Welfare StateThe federal bureaucracy expanded rapidly during the1930sunder PresidentFranklin D.Roosevelt’s New Deal. In response to the Great Depression, Roosevelt created many new agenciesto address economic hardship. Although some of these agencies were temporary, several becamepermanent and still affect Americans today.

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Study GuideImportant New Deal agencies include theSocial Security Administration (SSA), theSecurities andExchange Commission (SEC), theTennessee Valley Authority (TVA), theFederal TradeCommission (FTC), and theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).These programs helped establish the idea of thewelfare state, in which the federal governmenttakes primary responsibility for the well-being of its citizens rather than leaving it to individuals, localgovernments, or states.The welfare state continued to grow during the1960sunder PresidentLyndon Johnson’s GreatSociety. Programs such asMedicare,Head Start, theJob Corps, and theOffice of EconomicOpportunity (OEO)expanded federal involvement in health care, education, and poverty reduction.Like many New Deal programs, several Great Society initiatives became permanent parts of thefederal bureaucracy.This trend continued into the1970s. TheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)was createdunder President Richard Nixon to address environmental concerns. TheOccupational Safety andHealth Administration (OSHA), part of the Labor Department, improved workplace safety for millionsof Americans. During this period, additional cabinet departments were also established, furtherexpanding the federal bureaucracy.2.3The NaƟonal Security BureaucracyThe federal bureaucracy is not limited to social and economic issues. A large part of it focuses onnational security—protecting the United States from both foreign and domestic threats.Key agencies in the national security bureaucracy include theFederal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), theCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA), theNational Security Agency (NSA), and theDefense Intelligence Agency (DIA).In response to growing concerns in the late 20th century about violent crime, illegal drugs, andimmigration, several law enforcement agencies expanded. These include theBureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), theDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and theImmigrationand Naturalization Service (INS).2.4Changes AŌer September 11The terrorist attacks ofSeptember 11, 2001, led to major changes in the national securitybureaucracy. In October 2001, theOffice of Homeland Securitywas created within the ExecutiveOffice of the President. Due to pressure from Congress, it was later elevated to a cabinet-leveldepartment.

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