Chapter 15 Discussion

Which model of bureaucracy best explains the way the government currently operates? Why? In what ways might the patronage system be made more efficient? Respond to at least 2 other students’ posts.

Chapter 15 Learning Objectives:

• Explain the three different models sociologists and others use to understand bureaucracies
• Explain the way Congress, the president, bureaucrats, and citizens provide meaningful oversight over the bureaucracies

Remember to incorporate the course readings to form a foundation for your responses. Be sure to discuss relevant examples. Additionally, you must properly cite the course text (Krutz, 2020, page number). Consult the Discussion Grading Guidelines for additional details.

Please respond by 7/21/2021so i can send you my peers posts

Reading material below

https://egcc.instructure.com/courses/19684/files/4… 

Frist peer below

• Explain the three different models sociologists and others use to understand bureaucracies

The three different models sociologist use to understand bureaucracies are The Weberian model, The Acquisitive Model and The Monopolistic Model. The Weberian Model is that all agencies are governed by a formal procedure, where bureaucrats would solve problems through logical reasoning with this it would create a clear understanding of the service provided. The Acquisitive Model proposes that the bureaucracies are naturally competitive and all of them want power, they will make a name for their own bureaucracy in order to gain more power. The third model is the Monopolistic Model this model shows that some bureaucracies such as the IRS which has no other competitors the IRS does what it wants it takes its time responding back to you they can garnish your wadges agencies like these have no reason to be more efficient or responsive and they are rarely penalized for their inefficiency.

• Explain the way Congress, the president, bureaucrats, and citizens provide meaningful oversight over the bureaucracies

They have meaningful oversight so that no one agency can control their own budget. This is so that if the leaders of these agencies are corrupt or they seek power the other entities will keep each other in check.

Second peer below

Which model of bureaucracy best explains the way the government currently operates?

The current bureaucratic system being used is mostly the merit-based selection system. Around 85% of federal government jobs are filled through an examination of the applicant’s education, background, knowledge, skills and abilities. With around 20% filled through appointment and patronage. (Kurtz, 2019, p 567)

In what ways might the patronage system be made more efficient?

Patronage should be completely eliminated, that would make it much more efficient.

Explain the three different models sociologists and others use to understand bureaucracies.

-Weberian Model

oClassic model of bureaucracy that was developed by Max Weber. He argued that the increasing complexity of life would simultaneously increase the demands of citizens for government services. Therefore, the ideal type was one in which agencies are apolitical, hierarchically organized, and governed by formal procedures. Specialized bureaucrats would be better able to solve problems through logical reasoning. The efforts would eliminate entrenched patronage, stop problematic decision-making by those in charge, provide a system for managing and performing repetitive tasks that required little or no discretion, impose order and efficiency, create a clear understanding of the service provided, reduce arbitrariness, ensure accountability, and limit discretion. (Krutz, 2019 p 570)

-Acquisitive Model

o“The acquisitive model proposes that bureaucracies are naturally competitive and power-hungry. This means bureaucrats, especially at the highest levels, recognize that limited resources are available to feed bureaucracies, so they will work to enhance the status of their own bureaucracy to the detriment of others.” (Krutz, 2019 p 571)

-Monopolistic Model

oRecognition that bureaucracies function as monopolies. There are usually no competing organizations for which the bureaucracies were made for.

Explain the way Congress, the president, bureaucrats, and citizens provide meaningful oversight over the bureaucracies.

-Negotiated rule making

oWhenever bureaucracies encounter legal grey areas they are suggested to engage in negotiated rulemaking.

§In negotiated rule making, neutral advisors put together a committee of those who have vested interests in the proposed rules. They then set about devising procedures for reaching a consensus. The committee uses these procedures to govern the process through which the committee members discuss the various merits and demerits of the proposals. Eventually the committee reaches a consensus. (Krutz, 2019 p 577-578)

-Congress is empowered to apply oversight of the federal bureaucracy because of its power to control funding and approve presidential appointments. (Krutz, 2019 p 578)

oThe various bureaucratic agencies submit annual summaries of their activities and budgets for the following year, and committees and subcommittees in both chambers regularly hold hearings to question the leaders of the various bureaucracies. (Krutz, 2019 p 578)

oThe Government Accountability Office also provides Congress, its committees, and the heads of the executive agencies with auditing, evaluation, and investigative services. (Krutz 2019 p 579)

-The president also executes oversight over the extensive federal bureaucracy through a number of different avenues.

oAppointing the heads of the fifteen cabinet departments and many independent executive agencies, such as the CIA, EPA and the FBI. (Krutz, 2019 p 579)

§Those appointments also have to go through the Senate for confirmation

oThe president also conducts oversight through the Office of Management and Budget, which has the primary responsibility to produce the president’s annual budget for the country. (Krutz, 2019 p 579)

-Citizens

oFreedom of information act

§Provides journalists and the general public the right to request records from various federal agencies. (Krutz, 2019 p 581)

§Government sunshine Act

Differs from FOIA in that it requires all multi-headed federal agencies to hold their meetings in a public forum on a regular basis.

§Both have exemptions which include (Krutz, 2019 p 582)

Classified information

Proprietary data

Employee privacy matters

Criminal matters

Information that would prove financially harmful to companies if it were released

References

Krutz, G. (2019). American Government 2e. Houston, TX: OpenStax.