In American politics, bureaucracies often get a bad rap for being slow and hindering new ideas. Many people dislike bureaucracies because they are funded by taxes, which are not very popular. This article will help you understand how bureaucracies can be controlled and what these controls mean for the government.
There are two main ways to control bureaucracies: by limiting what bureaucrats can do and by reducing the size and number of bureaucracies.
The first way to control bureaucracies is to limit their activities without getting rid of them entirely. Congress can do this in two ways: before-the-fact controls and after-the-fact controls.
Before-the-fact controls are about setting limits on bureaucracies right from the start. Congress can do this by writing laws that clearly define what an agency can and cannot do. For example, if Congress didn’t want NASA to search for aliens, it could have said so in the law that created NASA. A more common example is Congress stopping agencies from using funds for abortion-related services.
Another way to control bureaucracies is by requiring them to submit detailed reports about their activities. This can make the system seem overly complicated, with lots of paperwork and rules.
Congress also has a say in who leads these agencies, although the Senate can only reject nominations, not make them. While the executive branch usually considers what Congress wants when nominating leaders, this control is weak because Congress can’t remove agency heads once they are confirmed.
After-the-fact controls, also known as oversight, include public hearings and investigations. Congress can hold hearings to examine what bureaucracies are doing, but too many hearings can make people lose interest. Famous hearings include those about Nixon’s impeachment and the Army-McCarthy hearings.
Congress has its own watchdog, the General Accounting Office, which checks how bureaucracies spend their money. Investigations can lead to reports that reveal how bureaucracies work, like the Warren Commission report on JFK’s assassination and the Senate report on CIA torture.
One of the most powerful ways Congress can control bureaucracies is through the appropriations process. By deciding how much money an agency gets, Congress can influence what the agency can do, often limiting its effectiveness.
Besides limiting what bureaucracies can do, another approach is to reduce their size and number.
The simplest way to shrink bureaucracies is termination, which means completely getting rid of them. However, this is rare because bureaucracies often have important roles and political supporters. For example, the Department of Education is crucial for overseeing schools.
Deregulation involves Congress reducing the number of rules an agency can enforce. While this aims to lessen bureaucratic control, it doesn’t always work as expected. For example, deregulating the airline industry in the 1970s led to cheaper fares but also fewer airlines and mixed service quality.
Devolution is when regulatory responsibilities shift from federal agencies to state and local governments. This might reduce the federal bureaucracy but doesn’t necessarily decrease overall bureaucracy unless funding is also cut.
Privatization means transferring bureaucratic functions to private companies. This can make the bureaucracy seem smaller, but the costs and effectiveness of privatization are often debated. For instance, proposals to privatize Social Security faced strong opposition due to perceived risks and potential benefits for banks.
While there are different ways to control and reduce bureaucracies, it’s important to remember their role in American government. Bureaucracies have grown since the New Deal and continue to be essential in public administration. Efforts to limit their power must consider the political realities and the people who depend on their services. Understanding bureaucracies is key to navigating the complex relationship between politics and government.
Engage in a structured debate with your classmates about the effectiveness of before-the-fact and after-the-fact controls on bureaucracies. Divide into two groups, with one supporting before-the-fact controls and the other supporting after-the-fact controls. Use examples from the article to support your arguments and consider the implications of each control method on government efficiency and accountability.
Analyze a case study on how Congress has used oversight to influence NASA’s activities. Research a specific instance where Congress imposed limitations or conducted hearings related to NASA. Present your findings in a report, highlighting the impact of congressional oversight on NASA’s operations and its ability to pursue scientific goals.
Participate in a role-playing exercise where you simulate a congressional hearing on a current bureaucratic issue. Assign roles such as members of Congress, agency heads, and public witnesses. Prepare statements and questions based on real-world data, and conduct the hearing to explore the dynamics of congressional oversight and its effects on bureaucratic decision-making.
Conduct a research project on the effects of deregulation in a specific industry, such as airlines or telecommunications. Investigate how deregulation has changed the industry’s landscape, including pricing, competition, and service quality. Present your findings in a presentation, discussing whether deregulation achieved its intended goals and the role of bureaucracies in the process.
Write a creative essay imagining a government without bureaucracies. Consider how public services would be managed, the potential benefits and drawbacks, and the role of private companies or local governments. Reflect on the importance of bureaucracies in maintaining order and providing essential services, as discussed in the article.
Bureaucracies – Complex systems of administration consisting of numerous offices, departments, and levels of authority, often characterized by detailed rules and procedures. – The inefficiency of large bureaucracies can sometimes hinder the swift implementation of new policies.
Congress – The national legislative body of a country, particularly in the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. – The bill was debated extensively in Congress before being passed into law.
Control – The power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events, often within a governmental or political context. – The government sought to exert more control over the financial sector to prevent future economic crises.
Oversight – The action of overseeing something, especially in the context of ensuring compliance with laws and regulations within government operations. – Congressional oversight is crucial for maintaining transparency and accountability in federal agencies.
Appropriations – Funds allocated by a legislature for a specific purpose as part of a budget or spending bill. – The appropriations for education were increased to support new technology in public schools.
Deregulation – The process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere, to allow for more competition and efficiency. – Deregulation of the telecommunications industry led to increased competition and lower prices for consumers.
Devolution – The transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration. – Devolution has allowed regional governments to tailor policies more closely to the needs of their local populations.
Privatization – The transfer of ownership of property or businesses from a government to a privately owned entity. – The privatization of the national railway system was met with both praise for increased efficiency and criticism for rising costs.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, often considered a key area of government policy. – Government investment in education is crucial for fostering innovation and economic growth.
Administration – The officials in the executive branch of government under a particular chief executive, responsible for implementing laws and managing public policy. – The new administration prioritized healthcare reform as one of its key policy initiatives.
