PoliSci Ch. 8

1. What is bureaucracy? What purposes do bureaucracies serve? A bureaucracy is the way an institution carries out its duties . Bureaucracy implements and interprets laws. They allow for politicians to act in the public’s interest, but mostly their own interest. They also create collective action and provide for public and private issues to be worked on. 2. What is implementation? Why is implementation sometimes difficult for bureaucracies? What is rule making? Implementation involves carrying out the institution’s goals. It can be hard for bureaucracies to implement things because there are many people that have to agree on one thing. Rule making is the way in which bureaucracies must conduct policy making. 3. What is the Freedom of Information Act? This act allows for the people to know what agencies are doing. It also lets people know if they have information about them. 4. What are cabinet departments? What are independent agencies? What are government corporations? What are independent regulatory commissions? A cabinet department is an agency delegated with a subject to make policy around. An independent agency is a Congressionally appointed agency that is able to work with more expensive projects like NASA or the CIA. Government corporations work like a private business in the free market. Independent regulatory commissions work on specialty legislation and have a lot of power in policy making. 5. What are clientele agencies? Clientele agencies perform in the best interest of their clientele. This includes learning their needs and creating policy for it, or working directly with clientele. 6. Identify the functions of the following agencies: a. Department of Agriculture works to increase farm productivity in the US in order to boost the economy. b. Department of Commerce and Labor aids foreign trade as well as labor industries. c. The IRS collects taxes and facilitates tax returns. d. The Department of Justice (Criminal Division, FBI) enforces laws through the judicial system. e. Department of Homeland Security works to prevent terrorism. f. State Department works to examine problems or opportunities with other parts of the world. g. Department of Defense was created to unify the Navy and War Departments. It also works to ensure national security. 7. What are regulatory agencies? Are given power by Congress to impact the economy and businesses of a certain region. 8. What is fiscal policy? What is monetary policy? What are the different functions of the Treasury Department? What is the Federal Reserve System and its duties? A fiscal policy is one revolving around taxation or government spending. A monetary policy works with credit, currency, and banking. The Treasury Department uses the IRS to collect taxes and produce tax returns. They also deal with fiscal policies. The Federal Reserve System is an agency that works with fiscal and monetary policy. It manages the lending and credit of important banks and changes the supply of money in order to keep up with other banks. 9. What are Welfare Agencies? What is the function of the Social Security Administration? What is the function of the Department of Health and Human Services? Welfare agencies are dedicated to improving the welfare of the people, especially those less fortunate. The SSA funds social security checks to those that qualify and oversees social security. The Department of Health and Human Services provides Medicaid and aid through TNAF. 10. What are the different motivational considerations of bureaucrats? Why do bureaucrats tend to want higher budgets? What are “policy subgovernments”? One thing that motivates bureaucrats is their compensation or how important their project is. Another is the idea of gaining prestige or attention. They usually want a higher budget because it makes them look better if they can succeed, and might improve their career. Policy subgovernments are things like supporters in interest groups or legislators that help you achieve your goals. They can help a bureaucrat work with a more important or expensive budget. 11. What are the different ways politicians (principals) can ensure that bureaucrats (agents) do their jobs properly? Politicians can ask other trusted people with effective knowledge if the agent is doing their job properly. They can also withhold compensation until a job is done correctly. 12. What is bureaucratic drift and what are the different ways politicians can prevent it?