Essay 17

The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing government policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.
One characteristic of the merit system is that hiring or promotion is based upon a persons experience and qualifications, or even testing. This allows for the most suited individual to gain the position rather than other systems where people simply move up the ranks.
A few factors that contribute to bureaucratic independence include the structure of the bureaucracy and the complexity of public policy issues. The structure is very large (There is power in numbers) and contains specialized units, therefore they can exercise discretion in areas that congress is less able to and be more independent in making decisions. The fact that positions held in the bureaucracy are merit based also increases independence. As for policy issues, the same holds true that the president and congress often dump responsibility on the specialized areas of the bureaucracy because they cannot handle everything, and that they may exercise discretion.
There are constitutional provisions that are able to check the bureaucracy, however. For example, Congress can implement appropriations on an agency and therefore increase the pressure to comply by the threat of a punishment or the promise of a reward. Congress can also pass legislation that can affect the bureaucracy and the decisions it makes. Similarly, courts have the power to declare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional. In addition, interest groups can lobby, protest, or use litigation against the bureaucracy in order to prevent their actions.


2. The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive br
anch exercises substantial independence in implementing
governmental policies and programs. Most workers in th
e federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who
are organized under a merit system.
(a) Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.
(b) For each of the following, describe one factor
that contributes to bur
eaucratic independence.
•
The structure of the federal bureaucracy
•
The complexity of public policy problems
(c) For each of the following, explain one Constitutional
provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy.
•
Congress
•
The courts
•
Interest groups

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