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American Politics and Government
Bureaucracy
11
International Studies
Undergraduate 1
12/18/2012

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Term
Bureaucracy Defined
Definition
the actual offices, tasks, and principles of organization that are employed by the federal government to coordinate the work of its personnel

The actual offices, tasks and principles of organization that are employed in the most formal and sustained administration.
Term
context and significance of the bureaucracy
Definition
1. implementation of the laws that Congress passes
2. implements government policies and promulgates their…
3. It makes gov possible through efficiency and credibility. It is a way to deliver gov good efficiently and a devy by which to “tie one’s hands,” thereby providing a credible commitment to the long-term existence of a policy.
Term
purpose of the government
Definition
o Public justice – overseeing the common good
o Regulations
o Law and Order
Term
federalism and bureaucracy
Definition
devolution
Term
roles of bureaucracy
Definition
1. Bureaucrats implement laws.
2. Bureaucrats make and enforce rules
3. Bureaucrats settle disputes.
4. Statutory authority is delegated to the bureaucracy, often in vague terms. Guided by legislative intent.

o Implement laws
o Make and enforce rules
o Settle disputes
Term
implementation
Definition
the efforts of departments and agencies to translate laws into specific bureaucratic routines

Implementing the objective of the organization as laid down by its board of directors (If a private company) or by law (if a public agency)
Term
administrative legislation
Definition
rules made by regulatory agencies and commissions

Rules made by regulatory agencies have the force and effect of legislation
Term
bureaucrats
Definition
principal-agent problem: the principal is Congress, and the agent is the bureaucracy. Congress has an agenda, and they hand it over to the B to be implemented. But the B has selfinterest too. A political principal formulates policy and creates an implementation agent to execute its details. The agent has policy preferences of its own and unless subjected to further controls, will inevitably implement a policy that drifts toward its ideal.

bureaucratic drift: the oft-observed phenomenon of bureaucratic implementation that produces policy more to the liking of the bureaucracy than to the original intention of the legislation that created it, but without triggering a political reaction from elected officials. The problem stated above where implementation of policy may be somewhere between the bureaucrat’s own preferences and the preferences of its principals.
Term
oversight
Definition
the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

The more legislative power Congress delegates to the executive branch, the more power it seeks to regain through committee and subcommittee oversight of executive branch agencies.
Term
key trends in bureaucracy
Definition
deregulation: a policy of reducing regulatory restrains in the conduct of individual or private institutions.Reduction in the number of rules promulgated by regulatory agencies.

devolution: a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing ti down to a lower level of government, such as from the national to the states.Downsizing the federal bureaucracy by delegating the implementation of programs to state and local governments.

privatization: removing all or part of a program from the public sector to the private sector. But such sectors are still very much gov programs; paid for and supervised by government. Aim is to reduce the cost of government (less unionized). A formerly public activity is picked up under contract by a private company or companies. However, they are still paid for and supervised for by the government.
Term
tension between bureaucratic discretion and administrative accountability
Definition
Bureaucratic discretion, you want the B to have a certain amount of independence so it can have flexibility. And you don’t want too much freedom because it won’t be efficient and streamlined. Everyone wants more power.
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