Unit IV “Institutions” Review: Chapter #15 – The Bureaucracy | Kautzman's AP GO PO Blog

Unit IV “Institutions” Review: Chapter #15 – The Bureaucracy

Assignment: Ask a question that you need assistance with and answer a question submitted by another student for each chapter in Unit IV.

Published in:

Institutions

on February 15, 2009 at 5:43 pm Comments (78)

Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)

RSS feed for comments on this post.

78 Comments Leave a comment.

on February 24, 2009 at 6:48 pm Kathrine Kruse Said:

What exactly is a subpoena, and why do people receive them??

What is implementation?

How is the comand and control policy like the inentive system?
on February 24, 2009 at 8:23 pm Johanna Stafford Said:

What is the difference between iron triangles and issue networks? I thought that iron triangles, issue networks/policy networks and subgovernments where all the same.
on February 24, 2009 at 9:09 pm Cole Ziegler Said:

How do Congress and the President interact with bureaucracies? What parameters are Constitutionally mandated during these interactions?
on February 26, 2009 at 3:39 pm Sarah Massie Said:

What is implementation?

The exact definition of implementation is to fulfill; perform; carry out; to put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure. The bureaucracy is supposed to implement policy. Implementation includes three elements: the creation of a new agency or assignment of a new responsibility to an old agency, the translation of policy goals into operational rules and developement of guidelines for the program, and finally the coordination of resources and personnel to acheive the intended goals.
on February 26, 2009 at 3:41 pm Haley Nelson Said:

Do GS ratings apply to Plum Book Appointees?

How is a government agency created?

What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

What is bureaucratic slippage?
on February 26, 2009 at 4:55 pm Rachel Kerr Said:

What are the main differences between the four basic types of agencies (cabinet departments, regulatory agencies, government corporations, independent executive agencies)?

Identify and briefly explain the four most common myths about bureaucracy.
on February 26, 2009 at 5:06 pm Rachel Kerr Said:

QUESTION: What is the difference between iron triangles and issue networks?

ANSWER: When agencies, groups, and committees all depend on one another and are in close, frequent contact, they form what are sometimes called iron triangles (subgovernments). Example: BUREACRACY (Tobacco division of the Department of Agriculture) — INTEREST GROUPS (Tobacco lobby, including both farmers and manufacturers) — CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEES (Subcommittees of the House and Senate agricultural committees). Iron triangles are characterized by mutual dependency, in which each element provides key services.

Hugh Heclo said that subgovernments are now overlaid with an amorphous system of issue networks. There is more widespread participation in bureaucratic policymaking, and many of the participants have technical policy expertise and are drawn to issues because of intellectual or emotional commitments rather than material interests. For example, those concerned with environmental protection have challenged formerly closed subgovernments on numerous fronts. In effect, issue networks have no definite shape or form, but you can imagine them as thin blankets spread over all subgovernments by concerned political participants.
on February 26, 2009 at 8:11 pm Cyle Christianson Said:

What exactly is a subpoena, and why do people receive them??

A subpoena is a document that calls a person to court to testify. People who are crutial to either the platiff’s or litigant’s cases are subpoenaed because their testimony is needed for the trial.
on February 26, 2009 at 8:15 pm Cyle Christianson Said:

How does the bureaucracy regulate our economy?

Is there a possible way to stimulate the economy that will not hurt our country in the long run?

Should the bureaucracy even have the ability to regulate business?
on February 27, 2009 at 4:02 pm Rebecca Rathbun Said:

What are standard operating procedures, and how do they bring uniformity?
on February 27, 2009 at 4:13 pm Alexa Erickson Said:

Are the “plums” in the Plum Book actual job positions, or are they highly qualified people?
on February 27, 2009 at 5:06 pm Jonathan Dyer Said:

To increase not only government more efficient and possibly reduce the budget, why aren’t similar agencies combined?

What is the “Plum Book” and what are “Plum Book” appointments?
on February 28, 2009 at 6:32 am Renee Davidson Said:

Q: What is bureaucratic slippage?

A: Bureacratic slippage is where a bureacrat doesn’t really follow the rules as closely as they should. I can imagine that this happens more at the state and local level because they aren’t being watched as closely. Mr. Kautzman said that he has done this because all senior history classes are supposed to write a research essay sometime throughout the year, but he doesn’t make us because we are in a higher level class.
on February 28, 2009 at 6:36 am Renee Davidson Said:

What is discretionary authority? Will this power ever be taken away?
on February 28, 2009 at 11:12 am Johanna Stafford Said:

What are the main differences between the four basic types of agencies (cabinet departments, regulatory agencies, government corporations, independent executive agencies)?
Identify and briefly explain the four most common myths about bureaucracy.

There are 14 cabinet departments each headed by a secretary, except the Department of justice who is headed by the attorney general, all of who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Each department manages specific policy areas, and each has its own budget and staff. The real work in a department is done in bureaus, dividing the work into more specialized areas. Independent regulatory agency is a government agency responsible for some sector of the economy, making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest. It also judges disputes over these rules. Each of these agencies is headed by 5 to 10 members who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for fixed terms and are hard to fire. Government corporations are like business corporations who provide a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically charges for it services but at a lower price. Independent executive agencies are the rest of the government not made up by departments, agencies and corporations listed above. They are appointed by the president and serve at their will. An example is the National Science Foundation which is the agency that supports scientific research.
The most common myths about bureaucracy are:
1. Americans dislike bureaucrats: they like bureaucrats but dislike bureaucracies.
2. Bureaucracies are growing bigger each year: the number of government employees is increasing, but the number of federal employees has not.
3. Most federal bureaucrats work in Washington D.C.: only 16% of federal civilian employees work in D.C.
4. Bureaucracies are ineffective, inefficient, and always mired in red tape: no one has found a replacement for them and no one has demonstrated that government bureaucracies are more of less ineffective, inefficient, or mired in red tape than private bureaucracies. ex: referees
on February 28, 2009 at 12:37 pm Sarah Massie Said:

What is regulation?

Why do some people want deregulation?
on February 28, 2009 at 12:58 pm Jordan Yaeger Said:

If there is the OPM and civil service tests what purpose does the plum book serve?
on February 28, 2009 at 1:00 pm Jordan Yaeger Said:

What is bureaucratic slippage?

Bureaucratic slippage is when a policy is supposed to be implemented by the bureaucracy but don’t because they do not agree with the policy.
on February 28, 2009 at 7:17 pm Rachel Damiano :) Said:

Has the Hatch Act ever been challenged as a limitation on free speech?

How heavy is the hand of patronage in areas of government such as ambassadorships?
on February 28, 2009 at 7:29 pm Rachel Damiano :) Said:

Q: What is discretionary authority? Will this power ever be taken away?

A: Discretionary authority is the leeway a bureaucrat has when dealing with a situation. If the situation does not fit within standard operating procedures, they have the ability to make decisions as to what the solution should be based upon their own discretion. This power won’t ever be taken away because it is impossible to foresee every situation and have a solution for it. Discretionary authority allows for problems to be solved quickly and with the least amount of trouble as can be managed.
on March 1, 2009 at 6:55 am Malaika Chandler Said:

“To increase not only government more efficient and possibly reduce the budget, why aren’t similar agencies combined?

What is the “Plum Book” and what are “Plum Book” appointments?”

To answer the first one, it’s as Kautzman said: The heads of committees and subcommittees like having the power that they have over certain agencies. It’s more beneficial towards their constituents in most cases. When agencies combine, they risk losing all the prestige that comes with being a committee chairperson because their committee will no longer exist.

And the second one: The plums are the positions themselves. Picture it like giving plums to the people you like or something. I don’t know. The plum book is a list of the available jobs every administration. It’s not a list of people as far as I’m aware.
on March 1, 2009 at 7:30 am Malaika Chandler Said:

I’m not trying to imply that they are unimportant (I want to work for one in the future), but how exactly do the government and the country benefit from the Independent Executive Agencies?
on March 1, 2009 at 12:02 pm Rebecca Rathbun Said:

What is discretionary authority? Will this power ever be taken away?

Administrative discretion is the authority of those implementing policy to select among various responses to respond to a problem. This power will probably not be taken away as there is a high level of direction as policies are often broadly written.
on March 1, 2009 at 1:11 pm Madelin Copus Said:

Question: Are the “plums” in the Plum Book actual job positions, or are they highly qualified people?

Answer: The “plums” are the jobs. They are called this because they are the desired governmental positions and the president is able to appoint them as they become open, with senatorial confirmation of course.
on March 1, 2009 at 1:15 pm Madelin Copus Said:

Would the bureaucracy be more effective if discretionary authority and slippage were not issues? How would this change/affect America?
on March 1, 2009 at 3:16 pm Cole Ziegler Said:

Q: If there is the OPM and civil service tests what purpose does the plum book serve?

A: There is a point (department heads, important positions, etc) that qualifications can only take you so far. For instance, if one hundred people apply for the U.S. Attorney General position via a civil service test, and they all have PhD’s, decades of experience, and perfect track records, how is the bureaucracy supposed to narrow it down to one person? It’s impossible, so the President is able to nominate (with Senatorial approval as a check on that power) people who share his views and still have the perfect resume. Plus, as we have seen recently, the Senate does not take lightly it’s job of approving important nominations, which is a great power to have over the President.
on March 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm Dave Marshall Said:

What causes programs to fail the implementation test? Describe each. Also, particularly explain fragmmentation fully.
on March 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm Dave Marshall Said:

What is implementation?

Implementation is the stage of policymaking between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy of the people whom it affects. Implementation involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program. In English, it is just enforcing a policy. Implementation includes three elements:
1. Creation of a new agency or assignment for a new responsibility to an old agency.
2. Translation of policy goals into operation rules and development of guidelines for the program.
3. Coordination of resources and personnel to achieve the intended goals.
Often times, good programs fail the implementation test. Some reasons are because of faulty program design, lack of clarity, lack of resources, administrative routine, administrators’ dispositions, and fragmentation.
on March 1, 2009 at 9:20 pm Alena Schoonmaker Said:

If Chester A. Arthur was the Prince of Patronage, why did he push forward the Pendleton Civil Service Act? Was the public opinion influencing him, or were the public tolerant of patronage in 1883 and beforehand?
on March 1, 2009 at 9:26 pm Alena Schoonmaker Said:

What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a piece of legistlation outlawing discriminatory voting practices that had been used to disenfranchise African Americans, particularly literacy tests. The Act also enabled the federal government to have extensive oversight into elections administrations. States with discriminatory voting practice records had to get preclearance from the Department of Justice before they could alter voting practices in their states. This preclearance clause has been extended several times, most recently in 2006.
on March 2, 2009 at 3:44 pm Bruce Graham Said:

What are three of the Theories about how bureaucracies should work or don’t work?

What are some of the factors that cause implementation to fail?
on March 2, 2009 at 4:41 pm Nicole Thompson Said:

What are the 4 myths about the bureaucracy? Explain how these beliefs are untrue.
on March 2, 2009 at 4:47 pm Ashley Rowe Said:

Why was the Voting Rights Act so sucessful while other policies fail?
on March 2, 2009 at 5:28 pm Ashley Rowe Said:

Are the “plums” in the Plum Book actual job positions, or are they highly qualified people?

Published by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Government Reform alternately after each Presidential election, the Plum Book lists over 7,000 Federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government.

So in other words, the Plum Book only contains postitions in the Federal Government, not actual people.
on March 2, 2009 at 7:01 pm Haley Nelson Said:

What is regulation?
Why do some people want deregulation?
Regulation is the use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector. Some people are against regulation because it is just more rules. It provides structure for our daily lives, but some people see it as the government butting in. When taxes are increased on food for example, people are bound to complain. The ironic part is if our government was completely deregulated people would want it back because there would be complete chaos.
on March 2, 2009 at 8:10 pm ryanphillipy Said:

What does the Senior Executive Service do?
on March 2, 2009 at 8:14 pm brennan waller Said:

In addition to Jordan Yaeger’s answer to “What is bureaucratic slippage?”

Yes, bureaucratic slippage can occur when a bureaucrat (usually at the state or local level) disagrees with the policy, but this is not always the case. I find it easy to remember the concept of bureaucratic slippage by thinking of the policeman analogy Mr. Kautzman explained in class:

You are driving 40 miles an hour in a 35 mile an hour speed zone. A policeman pulls you over, but decides to let you off with just a warning. The law says the speed limit is 35, so technically you broke the law and deserve a consequence. However, the policeman decides not to give you a ticket because you only “broke the law” by 5 miles an hour.

This doesn’t mean the policeman disagreed with the law, it just means that he may have his own way of going about carrying out the law, which is a good example, in my opinion, of bureaucratic slippage.
on March 2, 2009 at 8:19 pm brennan waller Said:

What are sunset laws and sunshine provisions?

(as seen in the “Controlling the Bureaucracy” section of the lecture notes)
on March 3, 2009 at 3:30 pm Tommy Urann Said:

Why would a bureaucrat feel a ‘loyalty’ to his/her agency? What causes a bureaucrat rather than a non-bureaucrat to express this ‘loyalty?’
on March 3, 2009 at 5:27 pm Brad Vander Linden Said:

What is the significance of Munn v. Illinois, 1877?
How does it relate to regulation?
on March 3, 2009 at 6:08 pm Savannah Hunka Said:

What are the three models of the bureaucracy and explain what each implies or explains?

How are independent regulatory agencies and interest groups dependent upon each other?
on March 3, 2009 at 6:18 pm Savannah Hunka Said:

What is regulation?
Why do some people want deregulation?

Basically, regulation is how the government regulates the American economy and society. All regulation contains the elements of 1. a grant of power and set of directions from Congress, 2. a set of rules and guidelines by the regulatory agency itself, 3. some means of enforcing compliance with Congressional goals and agency regulations. Some people want deregulation because they argue that it raises prices, distorts market forces, and in the end does not always work well.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:18 pm Samuel D Fitterer Said:

Q. What are the 4 myths about the bureaucracy? Explain how these beliefs are untrue.
A. 1. Americans dislike bureaucrats- Americans my dislike bureaucracies, but they generally like bureaucrats in day-to-day meetings and enjoy the services they receive from them.

2. Bureaucracies are growing bigger- The Federal Bureaucracy has actually decreased in size with relevance to the population since the 50’s. However with that Federal decrease, State bureaucracies have skyrocketed, so on state level bureaucracies have increased.

3.Most Federal Bureaucrats work in DC- only about 16% work in DC the others work in different states, for instance, California has 265,000 federal employees all to itself.

4.Bureaucracies are inefficient and covered in red tape- even though bureaucracies may seem to not work well some of the time, no better substitute has ever been found. When they work well they get little credit, but when something goes wrong they get a tremendous amount of blame.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:21 pm Samuel D Fitterer Said:

forget my last question thats budget.
My real question is What were the Defense Department procurement scandals? (lecture notes pg 98)
on March 3, 2009 at 7:31 pm Clarin McDonald Said:

Question: What are sunset laws and sunshine provisions?

Answer:

Sunset Laws are pieces of regulation that have an automatic end date for either the whole piece of regulation or just sections. Once this date comes, these regulations are considered no good. Buf if congress wants to push back the date in which these regulations end, they can.

Sunshine Provisions are state and federal laws requiring most regulatory meeting and decisions to be made available to the public.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:33 pm Annika LaVoie Said:

Not to be sexist or anything but will women’s athletics ever receive the same amount in funding or has Title IX just hit a dead end?

Who changes the SOPs to fit with changing times?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:34 pm Erik Layton Said:

Why was the Voting Rights Act so sucessful while other policies fail?

Those who implemented the act believed in the cause. There was no room for slippage in the act either. The language of the bill was very specific. Implementation was also very simple, the goal was simple, make it easier for minorities to vote. They abolished the literacy exams as well as the poll taxes, they also registered thousands of minority members to vote.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:34 pm Clarin McDonald Said:

What are the checks on the president that are put into place to check the amount of influence the president has over the bureaucracy?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm Erik Layton Said:

How may a street level bureaucrat exercise discretion?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:48 pm Annika LaVoie Said:

Q. What does the Senior Executive Service do?

A. The Senior Executive Service is comprised of 9,000 “cream of the crop” federal government managers. They administer public programs and are pretty much just top notch supervisors, who can be moved from agency to agency depending on who needs help. Their salary is linked to individual performance. According to the site USAJOBS, these individuals must be able to do the following:
Lead change
Lead people
Be results driven
Build Coalitions
Make profitable business decisions
on March 3, 2009 at 7:51 pm Felica Soderstrom Said:

QUESTION: What are sunset laws and sunshine provisions?

ANSWER: Sunset laws literally put a life span on agencies, while putting them on the line for periodic review. The agency must justify their existance in order to stay existant. Congress has the power to do this. This is a way for congress to try and gain control over the bureaucracy and it also helps to improve, or remove, wasteful agencie.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:55 pm Nicole Thompson Said:

Q: Would the bureaucracy be more effective if discretionary authority and slippage were not issues? How would this change/affect America?

A: Yes, the bureacracy probably would be more efficient. Without Discretionary authority there wouldn’t be any poor policy implementation and laws/bills would be more subject to success with a specific plan. However, without discretionary authority, there would be more limitations posed upon the administrator who must make a decision. And as we know, limitations often lead to less successful results than that of those who have more free options to come up with the best solutions. Yes, the bureaucracy would be better off without slippage. This would lead to better, and easier policy decisions and better performance. It would also prevent fragmentation. However, the idea of having neither discretionary authority nor slippage is unrealistic. People are always going to have disagreements in the government and over proposed law, so slippage will inevitably occur, and becuase of these disagreements, administrators are going to act within their own discretion to do what they think is best or what will benefit their groups the most.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:56 pm Kellie Hensley Said:

Q- What are sunset laws?

A- Sunset laws are laws passed with a specified date on which it will expire. People like them because it allows for laws to be reconsidered and re-evaluated.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:57 pm Felica Soderstrom Said:

Describe the four types of policies used by the bureaucracy. What are some differences between them and what role do interest groups play in each one?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:57 pm Kellie Hensley Said:

What happens when you ignore a subpoena? Can you go to jail? What would the consequences be?
on March 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm Kathrine Kruse Said:

What are sunset laws and sunshine provisions?
(haha you even put where it is in the lecture notes, made me laugh)

Well, sunset laws are laws that give agencies a limited life and require that they justify their existence. For example: the Bush Tax cut.

And sunshine provisions are able to access something with full disclosure.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:30 pm Alexa Erickson Said:

QUESTION: What are the 4 myths about the bureaucracy? Explain how these beliefs are untrue.

ANSWER:
1)Americans dislike bureaucrats: This is untrue because studies have shown that 2/3 of Americans who have had encounters with bureaucrats consider these encounters positive.

2)Bureaucracies are growing bigger each year: While the number of government employees has been increasing, the same cannot be said about federal employees. The state and local employees have been growing in number while federal employees, which account for 3% of civilian jobs, has been shrinking.

3)Most federal bureaucrats work in Washington, D.C.: Only about 16% of all federal employees work in D.C. California has the largest number of federal employees, followed by Texas and New York.

4)Bureaucracies are ineffective, inefficient, and always mired in red tape: Bureaucracies may seem inefficient at times, but without them, the country would truly be inefficient. They complete tasks that make “normal” everyday life possible. In addition to this, removing the “red tape” (or administrative routines) would actually create more “red tape”.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:40 pm Austin Ainslie Said:

What are sunset laws and sunshine provisions?

Sunset laws are provisions that Congress has passed that has a so called “expiration date” attached to it (i.e. the Patriot Act that expired in December of 2005). Sunshine provisions allow the public to look at data, such as the financial dealings of the bureaucracy, and receive full disclosure.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:43 pm Austin Ainslie Said:

Who created the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) and what is it?
on March 3, 2009 at 9:34 pm Bates, Kellee Said:

Due to the Civil Service Act, government jobs are required to be given out of merit rather then patronage. What measures are specifically taken to ensure a persons right to merit?
on March 3, 2009 at 9:43 pm Bates, Kellee Said:

What are the 4 myths about the bureaucracy? Explain how these beliefs are untrue.

-Americans dislike Bureaucrats
This is a general thought of Americans but after actually working with a bureaucrat, Americans are generally pleased with their service.

-The bureaucracy grows bigger each year
This is both true and false. The amount of government employees is growing but not federal employees. Most growth has happened at the state and local levels.

-Most federal bureaucrats work in DC
Only about 16 percent of bureaucrats actually hold office in DC. Others work directly where their service is needed.

-Bureaucrats and Ineffective and Inefficient
Most people see the flaws of bureaucrats but never see how much they accomplish. Actually our government requires the work that bureaucrats do and although it may seem inefficient, it is the best way we have discovered properly run our government.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:49 pm hillary susz Said:

How is it possible that Mr(s) Teacher still has a job?

What would need to take place to remove a bureaucrat from his/her secure position?
on March 3, 2009 at 9:58 pm hillary susz Said:

What are sunset laws and sunshine provisions?

A sunset law is a statute that includes provision for automatic termination of a government program, agency, etc., at the end of a specified time period unless it is reauthorized by the legislature.

A sunshine provision (1) require government bodies to conduct their business at meetings open to the public and/or (2) give the public the right to obtain access to government documents. However, Sunshine laws usually contain exceptions to both of these requirements. The exceptions allow government (1) to exclude the public from meetings at which certain types of items are discussed and/or decided and (2) to keep certain types of records or documents confidential. The provisions in the Sunshine Laws of each state differ.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:04 pm Bruce Graham Said:

Q: What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

A:The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a law designed to help end formal and informalbarriers to african american suffrage (right to vote). This act is important to us because it is a case of successful implementation by the bureaucracy.

It was successful implementation because its goal was clear (to register African-Americans voters), its implementation was straight forward (sending out people to register them), and the authority of the implementors was clear (they had the support of the attorney general and the US Marshals) and concentrated in the justice department.

This as opposed to how many problems implementation can run into with poor program design, lack of clarity, lack of resources, administrators dispositions, and fragmentation.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:45 pm Tyler Konsonlas Said:

With our current economy, which would be more effective the command and control policy or the incentive system? Why?
Just curious, anyone know why the GS rating is 1-18 and not like 1-10 or 1-20?
on March 3, 2009 at 10:49 pm Jonathan Dyer Said:

What happens when you ignore a subpoena? Can you go to jail? What would the consequences be?

When you ignore a subpeona, you can go to jail for contempt of court/Congress. A subpeona is a court order that orders a certain person or certain documents to be examined. The consequence is jail for ignoring a subpeona. You can answer the subpeona and then plead the 5th without getting in trouble, but ignoring subpeonas is not a good idea.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:56 pm Kyle Hermens Said:

What are the three models of bureaucracy?

1. The Weberian Model is the first, it has the idea of a precise, impartial bureaucracy with a hierarchal authoritry structure, where responsibility flows down and power flows up. They operate on the merit principle, and are impartial to ensure equal service.

2. The Acquisitive Model is a model of a bureaucracy where budgets are busily maximized, and powers are pushed to be expanded. They can hold monopolies, and act much like corporations do in that regard, except profits are replaced with budget increases.

3. The third and possibly least favorable model is the garbage can model. Bureaucracies are simply a loose collection of ideas that only take root and grow in the right conditions. They are loosely run and operate on trial and error, and solutions are fitted to problems instead of the opposite.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:57 pm Kyle Hermens Said:

What are three basic elements of implementation?
on March 4, 2009 at 8:27 am Claire Loomer Said:

Can the President fire bureaucrats? If so, how?
on March 4, 2009 at 8:45 am Meagan Barnes Said:

How can we limit bureaucratic discretion? Are there any advantages to allowing bureaucratic discretion to continue?
on March 4, 2009 at 11:44 am Makayla Sander Said:

What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was an act passed by Congress that singled out six states in the deep south. They sent federal regestrars to the states to register qualified voters. The act also outlawed literacy tests and other tests used to discriminate against potential african-american voters in the south.

The act is an example of successful implementation because the program had a clear goal, straightforward implementation, and those enforcing the implementation had clear authority because of the involvement of the Justice Department and the attorney general.
on March 4, 2009 at 11:44 am Megan Smith Said:

Due to the Civil Service Act, government jobs are required to be given out of merit rather then patronage. What measures are specifically taken to ensure a persons right to merit?

Most notably, the civil service test that is administered to all persons who wish to be hired by the government. People are required to take this test, and they are assigned a GS rating from 1-18. Depending on where the individual places, determines what level of jobs they are qualified for and how much they may be paid. This helps eliminate patronage in the government work place.
on March 4, 2009 at 11:47 am Makayla Sander Said:

How are Independent Executive Agencies different from independent regulatory agencies?

Why are the cabinet departments considered part of the bureaucracy?
on March 4, 2009 at 11:49 am Megan Smith Said:

What is the connection between interest groups and independent regulatory agencies? How does this relationship effect policy?
on March 4, 2009 at 2:01 pm Tommy Urann Said:

Q.)Are the “plums” in the Plum Book actual job positions, or are they highly qualified people?

A.) yes, the “plums” in the plumbook are actual job positions. Though they aren’t always the most challenging jobs. An example of a “plum” would be an embassador, if this embassador made somebody really happy, they may get an embassadorship some place nice and tropical.
on March 4, 2009 at 2:17 pm Cody Thompson Said:

Describe patronage in the bureaucracies, what put an end to it, and what was created after that as a result.
on March 4, 2009 at 8:07 pm Tyler Konsonlas Said:

Q: Who created the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) and what is it?

A: This Act was sponsored by Senator George H. Pendleton and written by Dorman Eaton. And the so-called Prince of Patronage, Vice President Chester Arthur who became the President with the death of Garfield, encouraged the passage of this Act. This Act created the civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
on March 4, 2009 at 10:33 pm ryanphillipy Said:

Q: What is the significance of Munn v. Illinois, 1877?
How does it relate to regulation?

A: Munn v. Illinois upheld the right of the government to regulate the business operations of a firm. It was the court decision that opened the door for the first regulation agencies and ten years later allowed for the ICC which set the president for regulatory policy making.

Leave a Comment