Considered the ‘granddaddy of government corporations’; example of a government corporation. One of the original cabinet departments, has become the government’s largest corporation: the U.S. Postal Service. Example of a government corporation.
Is the post office part of the government?
The United States Postal Service ( USPS; also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States, including its insular areas and associated states.
What is bureaucracy?
What is a bureaucracy? The complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization that are employed by all large-scale institutions to coordinate the work of their personnel.
Are government bureaucrats subject to greater public scrutiny?
Government bureaucrats are subject to much greater public scrutiny. Since it was established by law in 1947, some presidents have relied on an ‘inner cabinet’ composed of the president, vice president, secretaries of state, defense, treasury, and the attorney general.
Does the post office have access to letter boxes?
The Post Office has exclusive access to letter boxes marked ‘U.S. Mail’ and personal letterboxes in the United States, but has to compete against private package delivery services, such as United Parcel Service, FedEx, and Amazon.
What type of bureaucracy is the United States?
Yet, not all bureaucracies are alike. In the U.S. government, there are four general types: cabinet departments, independent executive agencies, regulatory agencies, and government corporations.
Is the United States a bureaucratic government?
The US Bureaucracy
The United States federal government’s bureaucracy is part of the executive branch. It consists of 15 cabinet departments, scores of regulatory agencies, and even more independent agencies. All told, the US bureaucracy includes more than 2.1 million civilian employees.
What is an example of federal bureaucracy?
Examples of Bureaucracy
All of the approximately 2,000 federal government agencies, divisions, departments, and commissions are examples of bureaucracies. The most visible of those bureaucracies include the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Veterans Benefits Administration.
What is the structure of the federal bureaucracy?
The federal bureaucracy consists of the Cabinet departments, independent agencies, government corporations, and independent regulatory commissions.
What is bureaucracy structure?
Definition. Bureaucratic structure: A codified set of role expectations specifying who is expected to do what, how, and when. Introduction. Governance takes place within and through. bureaucratic structures (Bevir 2009).
What is the structure from top to bottom of the US federal bureaucracy?
Officials or units at the top have control over the units in the middle. Officials at the middle levels direct those at the bottom. Each person working in the bureaucracy is called a bureaucrat. Each worker has specific duties.
What are bureaucratic agencies?
TYPES OF BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS. A bureaucracy is a particular government unit established to accomplish a specific set of goals and objectives as authorized by a legislative body. In the United States, the federal bureaucracy enjoys a great degree of autonomy compared to those of other countries.
What does the US federal bureaucracy do?
The federal bureaucracy performs three primary tasks in government: implementation, administration, and regulation. When Congress passes a law, it sets down guidelines to carry out the new policies. Actually putting these policies into practice is known as implementation.
What are 2 examples of government corporations?
Appendix. Federal Government Corporations
What are the 4 types of bureaucracy?
In the U.S. government, there are four general types: cabinet departments, independent executive agencies, regulatory agencies, and government corporations.
What are the types of bureaucracy?
The four typical kinds of bureaucracy are cabinet departments, government corporations, independent agencies, and regulatory agencies. Sometimes a bureaucracy can fit into more than one type of bureaucracy. The Federal Communications Commission could be called an independent agency and a regulatory agency.
What is federal bureaucracy AP?
The bureaucracy is a large and complex system of administration consisting of appointed officials. It features a hierarchical authority structure, job specialization, and established rules and procedures. The Bureaucracy implements, administers, regulates policies, issues fines, and testifies before Congress.
How does the structure of the federal bureaucracy contribute to bureaucratic independence?
The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.
How is the bureaucracy organized quizlet?
How is the bureaucracy organized? They are organized into independent executive agencies much like cabinet departments. Who created Independent regulatory commissions/ what do they do? created by Congress to regulate important aspects of the nation’s economy.
What is an example of a bureaucratic organization?
Examples of Bureaucratic Organizations. Modern bureaucracies in the United States take many forms. Some examples include: Department of Motor Vehicles. Prisons. Police departments. Colleges and universities.
Is the post office part of the government?
The United States Postal Service ( USPS; also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States, including its insular areas and associated states.
What are the basic characteristics of a bureaucracy?
The basic characteristics of a bureaucracy are: Modern bureaucracies in the United States take many forms. Some examples include: There are many advantages to this type of organization. Senior-level managers in bureaucratic organizations have a great deal of control over how the business is run.
Why do the authors say that bureaucracy makes government possible?
Why do the authors of the text say that bureaucracy makes government possible? It makes for the efficient implementation of policy and allows a credible commitment to the long-term existence of a policy. The United States Post Office is an example of which type of bureaucratic structure? Government corporation.
The United States Post Office Is An Example Of Which Type Of Bureaucratic Structure
When it comes to bureaucratic structures, the United States Postal Service is an example of what sort of structure?In the United States Constitution, Article IV, Section 2 prevents a state from discriminating against someone who is a citizen of another state or from providing particular benefits to its own inhabitants.The United States Postal Service (USPS; sometimes known as the Post Office, the United States Mail, or the Postal Service) is an autonomous agency of the executive part of the United States federal government.
It is responsible for the delivery of mail across the country.Bureaucratic Organizations are classified into several categories.A bureaucracy is a specific government institution that was formed to do certain tasks.
When compared to other countries, the federal bureaucracy in the United States enjoys a high degree of autonomy.Their tiered, hierarchical structure enables enormous bureaucracies to deal with a wide range of issues at the same time.The organizational structure of bureaucracy.The expectation of lifelong tenure in most bureaucratic positions exists in the absence of disabling conditions that may result in the organization’s size being reduced to an unacceptable level.It has been determined that he has failed to achieve the requirement of five years continuous residency in the United States of America.a specific type of organization distinguished by complexity, division of work, long-term commitment to a mission, professional management, hierarchical coordination and control, a rigid chain of command, and legal authority It differs from informal and collegial groups in that it is formal.
An example of bureaucracy at the street level.Postal workers are among the first people to arrive on the street.The judge ruled in favor of the employer, noting that there was no genuine proof that the employer had violated the law.As an example of bureaucracy at work, a regulation like this might have major negative consequences for the organization.
- What is the extent to which state functional structures differ?
- State governments in the United States have extensive flexibility to rule themselves in a manner that is distinct from the federal government.
- States’ online footprints also reveal a great deal of variance in the bureaucratic systems they have put in place to carry out the majority of their tasks.
- Learn about the concept of bureaucracy, real-world instances of bureaucracies, and the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracies.
- Robert Longley is an authority in the governance and history of the United States, with more than 30 years of experience in municipal administration and urban planning.
- An approach to the total eradication of personalized relationships and nonrational concerns (hostility, anxiety, affective 574) is taken by the structure.
THE SOCIAL FORCES.Because of the exploration and occupancy of this territory by Americans during the American Revolution, this region has gained Amnericanclaim.Bureaucracy is a system in which the power is held by the office.Scholars who have worked for and with the government Bureaucratic management organizations such as the United States government are examples of such organizations.There are two distinct forms of reason for which he would work in the bureaucracy, and they are as follows: Many government organizations, including CC, retain their bureaucratic structures, which is a fantastic illustration of how this may be done.A clear separation exists between management and non-management, and this unique structure enables all employees to understand exactly where they fit into the system and how they relate to one another.
- Considering the Importance of Organizational Structure.
- To the extent that open systems theory is applicable, bureaucratic regulations that enable interest groups and individuals to comment on bureaucratic rulemaking would be examples.
- Due to the fact that DDS and ALJ offices are physically located in comparable contexts, there is little diversity in decision-making.
In the United States, federal regulations frequently contain stricter standards with less flexibility; these standards not only have direct consequences for the regulated interests, but they also have an impact on the content and structure of non-governmental regulations, such as those promulgated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or the private sector (industrie).An organizational structure that separates a company’s operations according to specializations is known as a functional organization or a bureaucratic structure.Many aspects should be considered while deciding the sort of organization to join.Here are some of the most important: They include the company’s size and the kind of the business.Illustrations of organizational structures Three types of organizational structures stand out among the others, with the first of them offering three subtypes in its own right.Because of its tight structure and lack of information flow, it is characteristic of bureaucratic firms where there is minimal cooperation.
Mechanistic structures, often known as bureaucratic structures, are characterized by their short spans of time and a high degree of repetition.This sort of structure is appropriate for firms that produce a variety of products and can assist to reduce product development time.Alternatives to office sites could include outsourced services or satellite locations outside of the main office building.
In the food and beverage business, for example, where there are stringent standards and regulations, this type of organizational structure is common.There are many standards and processes in place for post-bureaucratic organizations that are being established.The ability to bring a group of people together and guide them towards a similar objective In the military, any command structure is an excellent illustration of a bureaucratic organization.Bureaucratic socialism (sometimes known as ″state socialism″) is a type of social structure in which ownership and control are concentrated in the hands of a small number of people.In business, a lateral organizational structure is frequently employed.
The staff of the company benefit from this style of operating.The Executive Agencies of the United States are included in this sourcebook.David E.Lewis is an American businessman and philanthropist.
- Jennifer L.
- Selin’s full name is Jennifer L.
- Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee.
- In addition, the Administrative Conference is an independent federal organization whose mission is to improve the fairness, efficiency and effectiveness of federal agency procedures and practices.
- Its primary function is to provide structure to a workforce consisting of more than a few individuals and several different divisions or departments responsible for various tasks.
- Bureaucracy may also serve as a framework within which employees can function effectively.
- Employees are protected by this structure since their duties are clearly defined, thereby avoiding confusion.
- Social and bureaucratic institutions exhibit evolutionary tendencies that are comparable to one another.
- We would do anything for that type of money.
- He predicted that the action would backfire and result in inefficiencies since the customs office would still be open after the change.
- It used to be that a tragedy of this nature would be treated with a bureaucratic shrug of indifference.
- The absence of assistance.
- The many types of city governments may be found all around the country.
- A municipal government can be divided into three types: the mayor-council, the commission, and the council-manager [council-manager plan модел урaвлени ″совет-уравлени″ (″совет-уравлени″ (″лан.
- The organizational structure of a firm, for example, is a system that is used to determine the hierarchy of the company.
- The following are the four most frequently encountered: A functional organizational structure, often known as a bureaucratic organizational structure This form of structure divides the organization into separate functional work activities – departments – that are carried out by different people.
- Organizational structure types are classified as follows: Pre-bureaucratic organizational structures Pre-bureaucratic means before the bureaucracy (entrepreneurial) Post-bureaucratic In the organizational context, the phrase ″post bureaucratic″ is used in two different ways.
- There are seven members of the Federal Cabinet: the prime minister, ministers of state, and advisors.
- The Senate is a body that exists in perpetuity.
- What is the definition of an organizational structure?
How many different types of organizational structures are there?This is an example of a functional organization’s blueprint, often known as an organization chart.Employees with a gray background are involved in project activities, whereas employees with a white background are committed to their jobs.
Structure of the organization, shown in Figure 1b.As an organization grows in size, there is a propensity to enhance task specialization within traditional bureaucratic organizations.Organizing a business based on the sorts of clients it serves may prove to be helpful for the company.Suppose a distribution corporation that sells to a certain market.
The United States of America is a federal republic comprised of 50 states that was founded in 1776.Each state elects two senators to represent them in the Senate.The President, who is aided by the Vice President, is in charge of the executive branch of government.Untied Nations (U.N.) is a global diplomatic and political organization committed to the maintenance of world peace and security.The United Nations has been attacked for its policies, bureaucracy, and expense in the past, yet the organization has completed hundreds of effective peacekeeping operations.
- The organizational structure of a corporation is concerned with who reports to whom and how different parts are placed together in the enterprise.
- A new firm will not be able to move further.
- In most organizations, there is a clearly defined line of command or chain of command that runs down the organizational pyramid.
- A hierarchical or pyramidal structure is what this is referred to as.
The USPS – A Perfect Example of Bureaucracy
The only place where there is efficiency is where there can be economy.Benjamin Disraeli was a British Prime Minister during the nineteenth century (1804-1881) Author and politician from the United Kingdom On August 5, 2011, there was an update.The United States Postal Service (USPS) has lost $3.5 billion in three months and is on the verge of going out of business.
According to Daily Finance, all of those wonderful union privileges, as well as fundamental changes in legislation, need to be examined — along with fundamental changes in legislation.’Given the present trends, we will be unable to meet all of our 2011 obligations,’ USPS Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett said in a statement.″Despite continuous significant cost reductions totalling more than $10 billion in the previous three years, it is apparent that a liquidity crisis is developing and that it must be handled by fundamental reforms involving legislation as well as modifications to contractual obligations.″ ″ The Invented Story The 27th of July, 2011- The post office suffered a loss of $8.5 billion last year.
It had a 3.5 billion dollar loss in the most recent quarter.What is the source of the financial crisis?One of the most challenging issues confronting the United States Postal Service is that every policy choice must be authorized by Congress, making it impossible for them to operate as effectively as the UPS or FedEx, for example.John McCain recently referred to the United States Postal Service as a ″model of inefficiency,″ although one of the reasons it is inefficient is that it is controlled by Congress.The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2007 was enacted by the United States Congress.The statute mandated that the United States Postal Service prefund its retiree health care benefits for the following 50 years.
The United States Postal Service was compelled to pay between $5.4 billion and $5.6 billion per year into its retiree health benefits trust fund because of a court order.There is no obligation on the part of a private corporation to accomplish this — it is a pay as you go system.The number was eventually reduced, but the expense had already been set aside, putting the post office in even deeper financial trouble than before.It is necessary by law for the United States Postal Service to deliver mail six days a week in practically every municipality in the United States, regardless of demand.
- It’s an unrealistic and impractical request that cannot be met.
- As a result of these developments, email and online banking have supplanted what was previously the exclusive realm of the post office.
- During the year 2006 to 2009, post office mails decreased by 17 percent.
- Then there’s the issue of the weak economy.
- They will close on Saturdays as part of a plan to staunch the bleeding, and they are hope to avoid severe layoffs until regular attrition and retirement can lower the number of employees on the payroll.
- In the previous four years, the United States Postal Service has suffered a $20 billion loss.
Either the government must improve its efficiency in handling the post office, or the post office must be privatized entirely.The problem with a bureaucracy like the post office is that it is authoritarian and does not adapt to changes in the market.The bureaucratic corporation does not have the option of making a free decision.They are not engaged in this effort for monetary benefit.In order to make them profitable, standard accounting techniques cannot be applied.The money that comes into the post office and the money that they spend are completely independent transactions.
- They are unable to simplify their operations in a down economy, and must instead wait for legislation from Congress to be passed to allow them to do so.
- We’ve all experienced what it’s like to be in that situation.
The Us Postal Service Is An Example Of A Bureaucracy
The problem with a bureaucracy like the post office is that it is authoritarian and does not adapt to changes in the market.The bureaucratic corporation does not have the option of making a free decision.They are not engaged in this effort for monetary benefit.
In order to make them profitable, standard accounting techniques cannot be applied.Prior to being a part of the independent United States Postal Service in 1861, the Post Office was established as a separate agency in 1792.The Advantages and Disadvantages of Bureaucracy If you hear someone refer to an organization as a ″bureaucracy,″ it’s unlikely that they mean it as a praise.
For example, the United States Postal Service is an excellent example of a GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.executive agency that is not subject to the control of the government Cabinet departments, independent regulatory commissions, and government companies are among the government entities that have not been held accountable.News about Indian bureaucracy, politics, IAS/IPS transfers, appointments, and postings are available on Sarkarimirror.com, which is updated on a regular basis.Diplomacy on a global scale is also important.As a private organization, it publishes an Ezine of government entities’ news, so be sure to check back frequently for the newest news and occurrences.a government agency that, like corporate firms, offers a service that might be provided by the private sector at a lower cost, and which often charges a fee for its services As an illustration, consider the United States Postal Service.
Examine the differences between an independent regulatory commission and an independent executive agency.As an illustration, consider the United States Postal Service.TVA, as well as Reform one of the most significant activities that resulted in the construction of a hydroelectric dam in a much needed location The United States Postal Service Individuals and companies in the United States can benefit from the services provided by the United States Postal Service, which is an autonomous government agency.an autonomous agency of the Federal Government of the United States As opposed to a government-run enterprise, the United States Postal Service is a private-sector organization.
- Because the bureaucracy is predominantly administered by the executive branch, there is little need for congressional monitoring of government operations.
- The United States Postal Service is the most commonly utilized government enterprise in the world.
- This former cabinet department was turned into a government company in the early 1970s after being established as a government department.
- Another government organization that is extensively utilized is the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, which is better known by the trade name Amtrak.
- What sort of independent agency does the United States Postal Service provide as an illustration of?
quasi-judicial The judgments of independent regulatory commissions having these powers can be challenged in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.The Postal Service of the United States is an example of a government.In this case, the United States Postal Service, or the United States Postal Service, is used.United States Postal Service Essay is presented only for educational and informative reasons., Cover Letter for a Postal Employee I’ve sent in my application, and I’m really enthusiastic about the prospect of working for the United States Postal Service.Excellent Example of a Resume.
The United States Postal Service is an example of A. the Presidential Cabinet Department. B. an Office of Administration. C. the Executive Office of the President. D. an independent agency of the Executive Branch.
As an illustration, the United States Postal Service falls under A.the Presidential Cabinet Department.B.
a Department of Administration C.the President’s Executive Office of Administration.D.
a non-departmental organization inside the Executive Branch.QuestionAsked 5:40:32 p.m.on March 11, 2015 Updated at 11:47:34 a.m.on October 24, 2016.1 response or comment This solution has been confirmed to be correct and beneficial by a third party.This has been confirmed by yumdrea.
User: As an illustration, the United States Postal Service falls under A.the Presidential Cabinet Department.B.a Department of Administration C.
- the President’s Executive Office of Administration.
- a non-departmental organization inside the Executive Branch.
- I think the United States Postal Service is an excellent example of a federal institution that is not part of the Executive Branch.
- emdjay23|32520 points|
- emdjay23 User: The chief of staff and the press secretary are both employed by the Executive Office of the President, but under which division?
A.The White House Situation Room OMB stands for the Office of Management and Budget.Affiliation with the Council of Economic Advisers (CoEA) Administration (Division of Administration) QuestionAsked 5:40:32 p.m.on March 11, 2015 Updated at 11:47:34 a.m.on October 24, 2016.1 response or comment This solution has been confirmed to be correct and beneficial by a third party.
- This has been confirmed by yumdrea.
- 8 out of 10 Both the White House Chief of Staff and the White House Press Secretary are employed by the White House Office.
- Added at 2:40:34 a.m.
on October 23, 2016.This solution has been confirmed to be correct and beneficial by a third party.This has been confirmed by yumdrea.
The Federal Bureaucracy in the United States
It is important to understand how complex systems work and how they’re organized, if we’re to navigate them. In that spirit, in order to truly understand how the American government works, we have to understand how it’s put together.
A bureaucracy is a system of individuals who are organized into hierarchical groups, who follow agreed-upon rules, and who work together to complete a certain set of duties in a coordinated manner.All bureaucracies has three characteristics in common.For starters, they contain a division of labor among their members, which helps them to gain specialized knowledge and abilities.
Bureaucracies, on the other hand, are hierarchical, which means that there is a ranking of people and offices that form an organizational structure such that there is a single boss or supervisor and various levels of subordinates with decreasing autonomy and power as one moves down the organizational structure.Finally, all bureaucracies are governed by a set of explicit rules.These guidelines frequently include a somewhat impersonal, goal-oriented career system that is neither efficient nor customer-friendly in its approach to business.
An excerpt from the video series Understanding the United States Government is provided here for your convenience.Keep an eye on that, Wondrium.
The US Bureaucracy
The bureaucracy of the United States federal government is an element of the executive branch of government.A total of 15 cabinet departments, several of regulatory bodies, and a slew of autonomous entities make up the federal government.There are more than 2.1 million civilian employees working in the United States bureaucracy as a whole.
According to one theory, as society became more and more complicated, and as the expectations placed on government to service society increased stronger, the bureaucracy in the United States grew in response to these increasing demands.A second, although not exclusive, explanation for the growth of the federal bureaucracy may be traced to the widespread corruption that afflicted the United States government throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.There were several political positions that operated on the basis of spoils throughout the period.
The spoils system was a method of filling government positions in which whatever candidate was elected to office would fill the positions held by that office with supporters of that candidate’s political parties.Following the end of the spoils system, the government established a professional civil service, in which personnel were chosen based on their abilities, credentials, and merit rather than on their political allegiance.The federal bureaucracy has now grown to be an integral aspect of government, dwarfing and outstripping every other arm of government in terms of size and scope.
Learn more about the reasons for the existence of governments.
The Executive Branch of the Government
The executive branch is divided into a series of five buckets, each of which is under the direction of the president.The White House is the first bucket on the list.Included in this group is the White House staff, which includes the president’s chief of staff as well as various advisors, speechwriters, and the press secretary, among others.
The Executive Office of the President, sometimes known as the EOP, is the second bucket.While the White House Staff is based in the West Wing of the White House, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is next to the White House, houses the majority of the EOP’s operations.The Council of Economic Advisers, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget are among the offices of the Executive Office of the President that are housed in the Executive Office of the President.
There are a number of additional offices within the EOP, including the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, among others.Understand the strategic strategy of filibustering in greater detail.
The Cabinet Departments
The 15 cabinet-level departments are grouped together in the third tier of the executive branch.Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs are just a few of the agencies involved.With the exception of the Justice Department, which is led by the Attorney General of the United States, each of these departments is led by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president.
In addition to having distinct authority and functions, each of these departments include a number of agencies that are housed inside the departments.Learn more about the history of political parties in the United States by watching the video below.
Independent agencies (the fourth bucket) are referred to as ‘independent’ since they are normally not a part of the president’s cabinet, despite the fact that their heads are selected by the president.It is envisaged that these agencies will be relatively separated from the ups and downs of political fortunes that might impact cabinet-level agencies.The scope of their operations is often lower than that of cabinet departments or agencies, and they are divided into two categories: regulatory and non-regulatory.
The creation and enforcement of regulations in a certain industry are the responsibility of the regulatory agency.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which regulates the safety of consumer products; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which enforces environmental regulations; and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces laws intended to prevent discrimination in the workplace, are just a few examples of government agencies.When it comes to non-regulatory agencies, they don’t have the same amount of authority or control, because they’re not involved in the creation or enforcement of any regulatory framework.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Central Intelligence Agency are just a few of the organizations that fall under this category (CIA).
The Government Corporations
An entity within the United States government that does not cleanly fit into any of the other buckets is included in the fifth bucket.A government corporation is included in this category.Entities that are neither wholly public nor entirely private are classified as hybrid entities.
They represent a variety of hybrid groups that get considerable financial and other assistance from the government in some form.The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which produces public television and radio content; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, which insures bank deposits; the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, which provides insurance to farmers who grow crops; and the Amtrak Railroad Corporation are examples of government-owned corporations.
Common Questions about the Federal Bureaucracy in the United States
Q: What are the three most important characteristics shared by all bureaucracies?First and foremost, all bureaucracies have a division of labor among its participants, which allows them to acquire specialized talents over time.Second, all bureaucracies are structured in a hierarchical manner.
Finally, all bureaucracies are governed by a set of explicit rules.Q: What was the’spoils system,’ and how did it work?The spoils system was a method of filling government positions in which whatever candidate was elected to office would fill the positions held by that office with supporters of that candidate’s political parties.
Q: What are the five organizational buckets into which the executive branch is divided?It is possible to divide the executive branch into five categories: the White House, the President’s Executive Office of the President, cabinet departments, independent agencies, and government-owned enterprises.
What Are Bureaucracies and How Do They Work?
A bureaucracy is any organization that is made up of many departments, each of which has policy- and decision-making authority over the rest of the organization.In our daily lives, bureaucracy can be found everywhere, from government agencies to offices to schools.It is essential to understand how bureaucracies operate, what real-world bureaucracies appear to be like, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracy.
Essential Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
- Administrative hierarchies with several levels of complexity
- departmental specialization
- A clear separation of authority
- A collection of written regulations or operational procedures that are universally followed
A bureaucracy is an organization, whether public or private in ownership, that is made up of multiple policymaking departments or groups that work together to make decisions.Bureaucrats are those who work in bureaucracies and are referred to as such informally.The term ″bureaucracy″ is often used to refer to the hierarchical administrative structure of many governments; but, the term may also be used to refer to the administrative structure of private-sector firms or other non-governmental institutions, such as colleges and hospitals.
Max Weber, a German sociologist, was the first to conduct a formal investigation of bureaucracy.″Economy and Society,″ written by Max Weber in 1921, stated that a bureaucracy was the most efficient form of organization owing to its possessed of specialized competence as well as certainty, continuity, and a shared sense of purpose.Although he expressed concern about the threat to human liberty posed by unchecked bureaucracy, he cautioned that people may be locked in a ″iron cage″ of impersonal, illogical, and rigid regulations.
Bureaucracy in government arose as a result of the growth of money-based economies, which had an intrinsic requirement to perform legal transactions in a safe and impersonal environment.It is primarily owing to the unique capacity of huge financial institutions, such as public-stock trading corporations, to deal with the intricate requirements of capitalist production more effectively than smaller, but less complex, institutions that they have gained popularity.
Examples of Bureaucracy
Everywhere you look, bureaucracies may be seen in many forms.Administrative bureaucracies such as state motor vehicle authorities, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), financial lending institutions such as savings and loan associations, and insurance firms are all encountered on a regular basis by many people.In the federal bureaucracy of the United States government, appointed bureaucrats develop rules and regulations that are necessary for the effective and uniform implementation and enforcement of the laws and policies enacted by elected authorities.
Bureaucracies can be found in all of the nearly 2,000 federal government agencies, divisions, departments, and commissions, to name a few examples.In terms of public visibility, the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Veterans Benefits Administration are the most prominent of these agencies.
Pros and Cons
When it comes to a perfect bureaucracy, the concepts and processes are founded on logical, easily comprehended norms, and they are applied in a way that is never influenced by human ties or political affiliations In practice, bureaucracies, on the other hand, frequently fall short of this goal.As a result, it is critical to analyze both the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracy in the actual world.Administrative laws and regulations are administered by bureaucrats who have well defined roles and responsibilities according to the hierarchical structure of bureaucracy.
This well defined ″chain of command″ enables management to keep a close eye on the organization’s performance and to respond quickly and efficiently when issues develop.Although the impersonal character of bureaucracy is frequently criticized, this ″coldness″ is intentionally maintained.When laws and procedures are followed precisely and consistently, the likelihood that certain persons may obtain preferential treatment over others is reduced.
By being impersonal, the bureaucracy may assist in ensuring that all individuals are treated equitably, without the influence of personal ties or political affiliations on the bureaucrats who make the choices in the first place.Traditionally, bureaucracies have sought staff with specific educational backgrounds and competence in areas linked to the agencies or departments to which they are assigned, as opposed to generalists.This experience, together with regular training, contributes to ensuring that bureaucrats are able to carry out their responsibilities in a consistent and effective manner.When comparing bureaucrats with non-bureaucrats, proponents of bureaucracy assert that bureaucrats tend to have better levels of education and personal responsibility than their counterparts.Despite the fact that government bureaucrats do not create the policies and regulations that they implement, they still play an important role in the rule-making process by giving critical data, feedback, and information to the elected legislators who decide the laws.Bureaucracies are notoriously sluggish to respond to unforeseen events and slow to adjust to shifting social conditions, owing to their inflexible rules and processes.
Furthermore, when given no flexibility to depart from the norms, dissatisfied workers might become defensive and inattentive to the demands of the individuals with whom they come into direct contact.The hierarchical structure of bureaucracy can result in the internal ″empire-building″ of a company or organization.The addition of unneeded subordinates may be the result of poor decision-making on the part of department managers or the desire to increase their own authority and position.Employees that are redundant or non-essential soon detract from the productivity and effectiveness of the business.
- In the absence of proper monitoring, officials with decision-making authority may be tempted to solicit and accept bribes in exchange for their cooperation.
- High-ranking bureaucrats, in particular, have the potential to abuse their positions of authority in order to serve their own personal interests.
- In general, bureaucracies (particularly government bureaucracies) are renowned for generating a significant amount of ″red tape.″ This refers to long official processes that need the submission of multiple forms or papers, each of which must meet a number of precise criteria.
- Critics claim that these procedures hinder the bureaucracy’s capacity to offer a service to the public while also costing the taxpayers money and time in the process.
- Since the rise and collapse of the Roman Empire, sociologists, humorists, and politicians have devised ideas about bureaucracy and bureaucrats that are both supportive and critical of the institution. Max Weber, a German sociologist who is often regarded as the ″architect of contemporary sociology,″ advocated for bureaucracy as the most effective means for huge enterprises to maintain order and enhance productivity. Economic and social philosopher Max Weber asserted in his book ″Economy and Society″ (1922) that bureaucracy’s hierarchical structure and consistent processes were the optimal method to organize all human activity. According to Weber, the following are the basic characteristics of contemporary bureaucracy: A hierarchical line of command in which the highest-ranking bureaucrat gets the last say on all matters
- A clearly defined division of labor, with each employee performing a specialized task
- A set of corporate objectives that are well stated and recognized
- A collection of official regulations that have been explicitly defined and that all workers have agreed to obey
- Employee productivity is used to evaluate job performance.
- Promotion is dependent on performance
Weber expressed concern that bureaucracy, if not adequately regulated, may jeopardize individual liberty by trapping people in a ″iron cage″ of control based on rules and regulations.Parkinson’s Law is a semi-satirical aphorism that states that all ″work expands in order to occupy the time available for its completion,″ which is somewhat ironic.The ″rule,″ which is frequently attributed to the development of an organization’s bureaucracy, is based on the Ideal Gas Law of chemistry, which asserts that gas will expand to cover the amount of space available.
Parkinson’s Law was created in 1955 by British comedian Cyril Northcote Parkinson, who drew on his years of experience working in the British Civil Service to write about it.Two elements, according to Parkinson, are responsible for the growth of all bureaucracies: ″an official wants to increase subordinates, not competitors,″ and ″officials create work for one another.″ ″Regardless of any fluctuation in the quantity of work (if any) to be done,″ Parkinson joked, the number of personnel in the British Civil Service is increasing by five to seven percent every year, a figure that is supported by statistics.This theory, named after Canadian educator and self-proclaimed ″hierarchiologist″ Laurence J.
Peter, asserts that ″in a hierarchy, every person tends to climb to the degree of ineptitude at which he was previously employed.″ According to this idea, an individual who demonstrates competence in their current position will be promoted to a higher-level position that needs a different set of skills and expertise.If they prove themselves to be competent in their new position, they will be promoted once again, and so on.However, at some time, the person may be promoted to a position for which they do not have the requisite specialized skills and expertise to perform their duties.The individual will no longer be promoted after they have attained their personal level of incompetence; instead, he or she will remain at their personal level of incompetence for the duration of their career.Peter’s Corollary, which is based on this concept, asserts that ″over time, every position tends to be inhabited by an employee who is incompetent to carry out the tasks of the position.″ Woodrow Wilson was a professor before he was elected President of the United States.When writing his article ″The Study of Administration,″ Wilson said that bureaucracy provided a strictly professional atmosphere ″devoid of devotion to transitory politics.″ Wilson was referring to the United States Bureau of Administration.
To him, bureaucracy’s rule-based impersonality was the best model for government institutions, and the nature of a bureaucrat’s work ensured that bureaucrats were protected from outside, politically biased influence.Robert K.Merton, an American sociologist, critiqued prior conceptions of bureaucracy in his 1957 book ″Social Theory and Social Structure.″ In his view, many bureaucracies eventually become dysfunctional due to a culture of ″trained incompetence″ engendered by an environment of ″excessive compliance.″ He also said that bureaucrats are more prone than others to prioritize their personal interests and requirements over those that would benefit the organization as a whole.In addition, Merton expressed concern that, because bureaucrats are obligated to disregard particular circumstances when implementing laws, they may become ″arrogant″ and ″haughty″ in their dealings with the general people.
Robert K.Merton’s ″Social Theory and Social Structure″ was published by the Free Press on August 1, 1968, in an enlarged edition.″Parkinson’s Law,″ as it is known.
The Economist published an article on November 19, 1955.WebFinance Inc.’s Business Dictionary has a definition for ″Peter principle″ that is current as of 2019.Max Weber was a German philosopher who lived in the nineteenth century.
In ″Economy and Society,″ Volume 1, Guenther Roth (Editor) and Claus Wittich (Editor), University of California Press published the first edition in October 2013 as ″Economy and Society.″ Woodrow Wilson is a fictional character created by author Woodrow Wilson.″Administration as a Subject of Study.″ JSTOR has the article from Political Science Quarterly, Vol.2, No.2, published on December 29, 2010.
Chapter 10: Review
|Bureaucracy and Bureaucrats The basic characteristics that define the concept of bureaucracy are found in virtually all organizations, whether public or private, military or religious, for profit or nonprofit. Most organizations are bureaucracies, and most of their employees are bureaucrats.|
- What is the purpose of bureaucracies and why are they required? Organizational bureaucracy is nothing more than a type of organization that is defined by a number of characteristics, such as a division of labor, the assignment of roles and the assignment of responsibilities, supervision, full-time employment, and employee career paths within the company.
- Bureaucracy literally translates as ″ruling by desks,″ which suggests that it is a government run by clerks.
- In a bureaucracy, the aims are efficiency and production, which may be achieved by specialization and repetition of activities.
- Bureaucracies are established in government to carry out a wide range of responsibilities, to offer vital services, and to serve as subject matter experts in certain policy areas.
- However, contrary to the widespread assumption that the federal bureaucracy has grown too big and inflexible, the federal bureaucracy has stayed relatively steady over the past 25 years, and has even shrunk when compared to increases in both civilian employment and government spending.
- What are the responsibilities of government bureaucrats? Bureaucrats interact with one another, keep records for accountability purposes, interpret the law, and carry out the goals of the organization.
- Congressional delegation of authority to the federal bureaucracy has resulted in agencies being granted the ability to design federal regulations (rule-making) as well as the jurisdiction to arbitrate problems arising from these rules.
- Government officials are responsible for a variety of tasks and responsibilities. They interact with one another, keep track of paper in order to be held accountable, interpret the legislation, and carry out the organization’s objectives.
- Congressional delegation of authority to the federal bureaucracy has resulted in agencies being granted the ability to develop federal regulations (rule-making) as well as the jurisdiction to arbitrate disputes arising from these rules.
The Executive Branch’s Organizational Structure
- What are the organizations that make up the executive branch of government? Among the federal bureaucracy’s components are Cabinet departments, independent agencies, government companies, and independent regulatory commissions, among other things.
- However, while the Cabinet departments are headed by a secretary (as opposed to the Department of Justice, which is led by the attorney general), it is the bureau level that is responsible for interfacing with the public.
- Independent agencies exist outside the framework of Cabinet departments and provide activities that are too expensive for the private sector to do (e.g., NASA)
- they are not part of the Cabinet departments.
- Government-owned enterprises (such as the United States Postal Service and Amtrak) are intended to operate like businesses and, ideally, to earn a profit.
- Individually appointed regulatory commissions are responsible for overseeing a certain element of society (for example, the Federal Communications Commission is in charge of overseeing the broadcast media).
- What is the best way to categorize these organizations based on their missions? Promote public welfare is one of the most significant functions of the federal bureaucracy (a function carried out by agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, among others).
- Agencies serving a certain group or customer (e.g., the Departments of Agriculture and Labor, Education and Veterans Affairs) carry out responsibilities that are beneficial to that group or clientele.
- The agencies in charge of maintaining control over the Union are divided into three categories: those in charge of controlling federal revenue (e.g., the Department of Commerce, the Federal Reserve System, and the Internal Revenue Service), those in charge of maintaining internal national security (e.g., the FBI and the Department of Justice), and those in charge of defending against external threats (e.g., the CIA and the Departments of State and Defense).
- Regulatory agencies enact regulations that have the force of law in their interactions with individuals and corporations. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are two examples of such organizations.
- Those in charge of fiscal, monetary, and welfare policy shift money between the public and private sectors and exert influence on spending and investment in the process. Finance and banking agencies include the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve System
- welfare agencies include Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and other government-sponsored programs.
Reinvention, reduction, and control are three strategies for managing bureaucracy.
- Is it possible to make government more responsive and efficient? With the 1993 National Performance Review, the federal government was aimed at being more efficient, responsible, and successful
- Vice President Al Gore was the driving force behind this endeavor to reinvent government.
- A total of $136 billion dollars in savings had been realized by the end of 1999 as a result of this endeavor.
- Over time, congressional monitoring has intensified, ensuring that agencies carry out their intended tasks.
What are the 4 types of bureaucracy?
First, I feel almost forced to offer a description of bureaucracy before I can tell you about the four broad types of bureaucracies that exist inside the United States federal government.It appears that bureaucracy is a problem that affects people regardless of their political membership or affiliations.I’m sometimes perplexed as to why all of this paperwork causes so much hassle.
Possibly since a bureaucracy can be characterized as a complicated, multilayered structure or system, this may be the case.Dealing with a system that is so deep and intricate may be really frustrating.A bureaucracy may also be described as a form of governance in which non-elected officials make the crucial decisions that affect the lives of citizens.
If I combine the two definitions, I get a serpentine system comprised of unelected individuals that make crucial choices on a regular basis.Perhaps this description makes it plain why bureaucracies are frequently regarded with disdain.Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I can finally tell you about the four different sorts of bureaucracies that exist.
- Cabinet departments
Various policy areas are overseen by the cabinet departments, which are divided into four groups.Education is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education.Security is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security.
Housing is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.I believe you have grasped the gist of the situation.There is a secretary in charge of each cabinet.
The secretary is appointed by the president.The nomination is next confirmed or rejected by Congress.
- Government corporations
There are linkages between the government and numerous companies, and this is true.When the government of the United States establishes a company, it is referred to as a ″quasi-corporation.″ That word refers to a legal entity that performs some of the activities of a corporation, but which, unlike a regular company, is not partially or totally controlled by a country’s government.Amtrak, the United States Postal Service, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae are just a few examples of government-owned enterprises from the past and present.
- Independent agencies
Independent entities, like cabinets, are responsible for certain areas of responsibility. Independent agencies, in contrast to cabinets, are not a component of a cabinet. That is what allows them to be self-sufficient. Independent agencies include the Federal Communications Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and NASA, to name a few notable examples.
- Regulatory agencies
These organizations, as their name implies, are tasked with implementing and/or repealing laws and regulations.It is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) responsibility to regulate air travel and air safety.The National Labor Relations Board is in charge of regulating labor relations.
One additional point to mention: bureaucracies, like humans, can take on numerous identities from time to time.In the case of the Federal Communications Commission, for example, it is true that it is an autonomous entity.It is not a member of a president’s cabinet in any way.
Nonetheless, it is true that the Federal Communications Commission is a regulatory body.It is in charge of regulating the internet, television, cell phones, and other forms and methods of communication.
AP Gov Unit 2 Notes: The Bureaucracy Review
The bureaucracy is a big and sophisticated structure of administration comprised of individuals who have been appointed by the government.It is characterized by a hierarchical authority structure, job specialization, and a set of rules and procedures that have been developed.The Bureaucracy is responsible for the implementation, administration, and regulation of policies, as well as the imposition of penalties and the provision of testimony before Congress.
It carries out its responsibilities through Commissions, Departments, and government businesses.
Types of Bureaucratic Agencies
The Cabinet is made up of the leaders of fifteen departments.Except for the Justice Department, which is led by the attorney general, all of these are overseen by Secretaries, all of whom are chosen by the president and must get Senate approval before taking office.Departments such as the Departments of State, Treasury, and Defense are examples.
Independence of the independent regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which are nominally part of the executive branch but function with a significant degree of independence from presidential supervision.The majority of autonomous agencies are governed by commissions of between five and seven members who share power, although the president has the authority to appoint some of the commission’s members to specific positions.It is a government corporation when a government entity performs a service that might have been performed more efficiently by the private sector.
It often charges for its services and operates in the same way that a business would.In this case, the Postal Service serves as an example because its function may be performed by organizations in the private sector such as UPS, and the Postal Service charges a fee for its services.
When it comes to policy formation, an iron triangle is a concept that describes the interaction that forms between legislative committees, the government bureaucracy, and interest groups during the process of policy formulation.The natural evolution of the interaction between these three groups happens over time as a result of the close proximity in which they all work together and the fact that they are all attempting to maximize their gains throughout the policy-making process.Subject networks are groups of people who consistently argue a certain issue, such as members of interest organizations, members of Congress, members of governmental agencies, members of academia, and members of the news media.
Merit and Reforms
Spoils are awarded to politicians when they bestow favors, award contracts, and/or nominate friends, followers, and families to positions of power under a corrupt political system.The merit system is a public employment system in which selection and advancement are based on demonstrable performance rather than political favoritism; this is the system currently in use in the United States.The Pendleton Act and the Hatch Act are two instances of improvements that have taken place in the federal government.
According to the Pendleton Act (1883), which was passed in 1883, government posts should be allocated on the basis of merit rather than on the basis of experience.During their time on the job, federal employees are prohibited from actively participating in partisan politics under the Hatch Act, which was passed in 1939.Federal employees are prohibited from participating in partisan political activities under the terms of the Act; however, they are still permitted to vote in elections.
Important Offices and Laws
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the employment agency for the federal government.The Office of Personnel Management conducts the Civil Service Exam, publishes job opportunity listings, and hires on t