PLS 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Beur, Statutory Interpretation, Private Law
Session 8 – The Bureaucracy
-talk about aspects of the beur
-what it does
-and put them into the broader context and how they interact
Weber (1864-1920) argues for need of bureaucracy in modern nations
- Bureaucracies engage in policy making, like the legislative engages in
lawmaking
o The difference is that the bureaucracy does not have to answer to
the executive
o Whereas, congressmen are
- Argued they should be rational and efficient
- Other properties:
o 1) Clear assignment of roles
o 2) rules
o 3) hierarchy
o 4) professionals
▪ It means we have the order based on merit, and not political
hierarchy. Makes sure people are where they should be
But what do they do??????
- 1) SERVICE
o Such as education, healthcare, welfare, parks,
▪ Department of Education is a beauracracy
- 2) Regulation
o Makes sure things are on the up and up
o FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON THE ECONOMY
- 3) Implementation
o NOT SPECIFIC TO ONE GENRE ISSUE AREA
- 4) Policymaking
o People ho sit o these oad ae ot eleted, they’e seleted y
the government. So what they say goes
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Bureaucracies on the Broader Political Context
- 1) Tension between democracy and bureaucratic institutions
- A key component of bureaucracies:
o They’re ueleted, ut they’re still otiuig to ake poliies
- In a democracy we expect it to be reflective of public opinion
- Thee’s o ietie to ote fo the ostituey
- At least you can vote out who is in charge of the bureaucracy
o The president is in charge of staffing the beauracracy
- 2) Hierarchical components impede control
o By the time it gets through everyone to the lead administrator, there
will be a significant amount of ambiguities along the way
- 3) Incentive structure can create a closed system (ie iron triangle)
o Interest groups – often directly affected by the bureaucracy
▪ So they have a strong incentive to get involved
▪ Eleted offiials do’t hae this ietie
o Congressional committees- important component
▪ Delegation of authority from the entire chamber to a specific
subset to lessen the time the bureu has to deal with the issue
- The Triangle then is bureaucracies, intrest groups, and congressional
committees
- Who is the constituency the beauracracy is trying to serve?
o If it’s the iteest goup, it’s osideed aptued
- 4) Agency theory provides potential solution
o AKA the principle agent model
o DEFINITION – think of the buerac of being more of a contractor hired
by the legislation
▪ You may not know how to swing a hammer, but you know
when the counter is crooked.
▪ You a easue ho good o ad it is, you just a’t do it
yourself. So you hire someone who can
o This model provides a theory as to why the buracs serve to the
legislation
- BUT, there is bureucratci relation with the public
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
And put them into the broader context and how they interact. Weber (1864-1920) argues for need of bureaucracy in modern nations. Bureaucracies engage in policy making, like the legislative engages in lawmaking: the difference is that the bureaucracy does not have to answer to the executive, whereas, congressmen are. Argued they should be rational and efficient. Other properties: 1) clear assignment of roles, 2) rules, 3) hierarchy, 4) professionals, it means we have the order based on merit, and not political hierarchy. Makes sure people are where they should be. 1) service: such as education, healthcare, welfare, parks, department of education is a beauracracy. 2) regulation: makes sure things are on the up and up, focuses primarily on the economy. 3) implementation: not specific to one genre issue area. 4) policymaking: people (cid:449)ho sit o(cid:374) these (cid:271)oa(cid:396)d a(cid:396)e (cid:374)ot ele(cid:272)ted, they"(cid:396)e sele(cid:272)ted (cid:271)y the government. 1) tension between democracy and bureaucratic institutions.
