Write an essay on the founders of American bureaucracy emphasizing the comparison between Jefferson and Hamilton approaches to government

Write an essay on the founders of American bureaucracy emphasizing the comparison between Jefferson and Hamilton approaches to government

1.Write an essay on the founders of American bureaucracy emphasizing the comparison between Jefferson and Hamilton approaches to government/bureaucracy. After a brief introduction, discuss the following issues (Follow the A to C order below)

A. Following Jefferson and Hamilton positions regarding the size of government/bureaucracy, discuss their positions on: (1) the expansion of American government/bureaucracy in the 1930\’s and in the 1960\’s-1970\’s and; (2) the movement towards smaller government/bureaucracy in the 1980s.

B. Following Jefferson and Hamilton positions regarding centralization/decentralization of government/bureaucracy, discuss their positions on the domestic policies and programs of the 1960\’s-1970\’s Great Society and on the policies of 1980\’s New Federalism.

C. Discuss the growth of American bureaucracy according to the Political Science discipline. In your opinion, what would be Jefferson

Founders of American bureaucracy. Jefferson and Madison criticized/counteracted Hamilton. Jefferson favored a weak executive and decentralization. He was concerned with direct democracy, especially on the state and local/small-community levels, and with limited/small government/bureaucracy. His qualified trust in government is exemplified by the limited power of the president, state governors, and city mayors. Hamilton favored a strong executive and centralization. He advocated for a strong government/bureaucracy. He envisioned the American Administrative State and public administration.

Three levels of appointed public administrators. Politician/Secretary, political executive/director or top administrator, and civil servant or professional public manager qualified by merit and expertise.

History of the growth of American bureaucracy.

• Early statistics.
• President Roosevelt, the New Deal in the 1930s, first major expansion of government and intervention in the economy.
• Post WWII growth of government, the US is a superpower.
• President Johnson, the Great Society in the 1960s-1970s, and second major expansion of government.
• President Reagan, New Federalism in the 1980s, and the movement towards smaller government.
• September 11th, 2001 and the 2000s’ context.
• President Obama and the 2010 Affordable Care/Health Act.

Three theory explanations for the growth of bureaucracy.

• Political science and interest groups’ pluralism.
• Economics and disturbances in the economy.
• Futurism and technological changes.

Weber, reminder from Topic 2 on the characteristics of the Ideal Type of Bureaucracy.

Bureaucratic power.

• Growth and power according to Parkinson.
• Power and incompetency according to Peter Principle.
• Sources of bureaucratic power: constituency support, legislative support, budget, civil service, expertise and technical information.

Topic 9: American Public Administration: Bureaucratic Power Reading: Henry pp. 8-35 (Chapter 1) READ AND STUDY THE INSTRUCTOR NOTES BELOW

Founders of American bureaucracy. Jefferson and Madison criticized/counteracted Hamilton. Jefferson favored a weak executive and decentralization. He was concerned with direct democracy, especially on the state and local/small-community levels, and with limited/small government/bureaucracy. His qualified trust in government is exemplified by the limited power of the president, state governors, and city mayors. Hamilton favored a strong executive and centralization. He advocated for a strong government/bureaucracy. He envisioned the American Administrative State and public administration. Read and pay attention to pp. 8-16.

The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States, was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. On September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island), signed the United States Constitution.

This period is marked by ongoing drafting and writing of the Articles of Confederations, State Constitutions, and the U.S. constitution. In the backdrop of all these activities, there were great fears and concerns that this unprecedented American experiment in democracy may turn into another form of an absolute European King power. In 1789, the French Revolution’s would begin its problematic democratic experiment, which will be settled within several decade.

Among the American founders, Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton were most influential in shaping/writing the U.S. Constitution and the roles of American government and bureaucracy. Jefferson and Madison often counteracted Hamilton; though Madison was behind some important compromises.

Jefferson pushed for an all-powerful President and Executive Branch in foreign, military, and security affairs. He also advocated for a limited domestic role for the President and the Executive Branch; limited to printing money, running the US Post office, and similar functions. Later as President, Jefferson did not veto a Congress/domestic legislation, but was very active in foreign affairs. The Louisiana Purchase, the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the U.S. from France, took place under Jefferson in 1803.

Jefferson favored a weak executive and decentralized government. He sought for power held by the people, direct democracy, and citizen participation in government; especially on the state and local/small-community levels. His qualified trust in government is exemplified by the limited power of the president, state governors, and city mayors. Hence, Jefferson also advocated for a limited/small government/bureaucracy.

Ultimately, Jefferson prevailed over Hamilton. The word Administration was not even inserted into the U.S. Constitution. The legitimacy of American Public Administration (PA) remained somewhat limited, including mixed attitudes towards this profession. In short, Jefferson is the founder of American PA tradition/culture with emphasis on constrained/small government.

In contrast, Hamilton is the founder of American PA practice. He envisioned the American Administrative State and PA. Hamilton was a PA scholar and the first Treasury Secretary. He favored a strong President and Executive Branch. He advocated for a strong federal government, including a centralized federal bureaucracy.

Three levels of appointed public administrators. Politician/Secretary, political executive/director or top administrator, and civil servant or professional public manager qualified by merit and expertise.

The bureaucracy, sometimes called the Fourth Branch of Government, is a large and complex system of organizations. The bureaucracy is powerful; and skillful in preserving its power and securing its survival. American PA is relatively independent/autonomous from elected politicians. This is evident when U.S. Congressional-Presidential system is compared with the European Parliamentary system. In the latter, the chief executive, the Prime Minister, usually is not elected at-large/nationwide vote. The at-large/nationwide direct election of U.S. President by the people, provides the President and the Executive Branch with more autonomy/independence from the legislature/Congress.

Elected politicians depend on the specialized/technical knowledge and expertise of the bureaucrats who carry out the Congress’ laws and programs. In Topic 5 we learned that the bureaucracy can even threat democracy with excessive use of administrative knowledge/expertise power. This is because the bureaucrats are not elected to represent the people; they are appointed. In the U.S. bureaucracy, these Appointed Public Administrators can be classified into three levels.

First, Politician/Secretary. This top political level position is represented by the Secretary of Department; all secretaries are appointed/unelected members of the President Cabinet. Examples are Secretary of the State Department, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other secretaries of federal departments in the President Cabinet. Almost all these political appointments change with the entry of a new Administration after national elections.

Second, Political executive/director. This top administrative level position is represented by the Undersecretary of Department or General Director of government agency. Administrators on this level are in charge of all administrative activities, largely internal and day-to-day activities. These appointments may change or may not change with the entry of a new Administration after national elections.

Third, Civil servant or professional public manager qualified by merit, expertise, and knowledge. This administrator, though less influential politically, holds a permanent position. These appointments do not change with the entry of a new Administration after national elections. The civil servants provide the bureaucracy with stability and professionalism.

History of the growth of American bureaucracy. Read and pay attention to pp. 16-17.

Early statistics. See Henry, p. 16 (bottom) – 17 (top).

President Roosevelt, the New Deal in the 1930s, first major expansion of government and intervention in the economy.

The New Deal refers to a series of 1933-1939 domestic policies and programs, initiated by the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They all aimed to solve the problems caused by the 1929-1933 Great Depression in the U.S.A; which included unprecedented high level of unemployment. Addressing the Depression problems, the New Deal created jobs, improved rights of workers, and supported the elderly and disabled. The policies focused on the unemployed and poor, recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system to prevent a repeat depression.

Government agencies and organizations to promote these policies were established. The Social Security Act created the Social Security Board to oversee the administration of this new program. The Social Security Administration was established later. This is the present agency’s name.

Post WWII growth of government, the US is a superpower.

After WWII the U.S. becomes a dominant world power. The Soviet Union is the other superpower. The U.S. new status leads to unprecedented buildup of the military and security apparatuses and to extensive worldwide involvement in foreign affairs. The 1950s are marked by huge expansion of government activities.

President Johnson, the Great Society in the 1960s-1970s, and second major expansion of government.

The Great Society refers to a series of 1960s-1970s domestic policies, programs, and legislation; all initiated by the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The goals were to reduce poverty levels, unemployment, racial injustice, and crime. Among the leading programs were equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, public sector jobs, and urban renewal of neighborhoods. Other leading programs covered education, transportation, and rural poverty. Programs were funded via Categorical/specific grants from federal to local government. Medicare and Medicaid were launched, including health care for the elderly and poor.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Johnson. It aimed to protect the voting rights of all Americans and overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels. The latter prevented African-Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Environmental Protection Agency was established. It marked growing attention to environmental affairs including air/water pollution, water quality, toxic waste, etc.

President Reagan, New Federalism in the 1980s, and the movement towards smaller government.

The primary goal of President Ronald Reagan’s 1980’s New Federalism policies was to restore to the states some of the autonomy and power they lost to the federal government since the New Deal. The transfer of powers from the U.S. Federal government back to the states involved federal Block Grants to the states. The Grants aimed to fund state and local programs for resolving social issues such as education, housing, transportation, social services, law enforcement, and public health.

Reagan’s New Federalism, similarly to Johnson’s Great Society, restructured intergovernmental (federal-state-local) relations. The federal government monitored program outcomes, but states were provided broad discretion to implement programs. Regan-related famous 1980s slogans were “Government is the problem” and “Let’s get the Fed. off the shoulders of the States.” Finally, the origins of the multitude of privatization and public-private programs in present public management practice in the U.S.—are in 1980s New Federalism.

September 11th, 2001 and the 2000s’ context.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was created as a response to the September 11 attack. It included the Transportation Security Administration, with authority over the security of the traveling public in the U.S. Airlines’ security has changed in many ways. Passengers were inspected in airports before their flights, air marshals were placed on flights, and some trained pilots could carry guns.

In general, government workforce was shrinking in the 2000s. More specific, 1940s/1950s Baby Boomers began to retire from government jobs. But the 2000s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq required huge funding and expansion of the military and security.

President Obama and the 2010 Affordable Care/Health Act.

After three years of a national economic recession and shrinking economy, the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. The ACA was designed to extend health coverage to millions of Americans, including young adults, and provide them with health insurance. ACA expanded Medicaid to cover more people; it supported innovative medical care delivery methods, aimed to lower the costs of health care.

Finally, an interesting 2009 initiative of President Barack Obama was the establishment of a new White House Office of Urban Affairs. The last similar effort for national urban policy was initiated by President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s.

Three theory explanations for the growth of bureaucracy.

The growth of bureaucracy is explained from the different perspective of each of three disciplines: political science, economics, and futurism

Political science and interest groups’ pluralism.

Government grows due to many competing interest groups. Each group is a “watch dog” for its narrow interest and, thus, demands more government services and funding for programs serving the group members. In an affluent society, and especially in a growing economy, there is no need to close programs; and new services and programs are then funded as a response to interest group pressures.

Economics and disturbances in the economy.

Major disturbances in the economy, such as terrorism, wars, and natural disasters—raise the need for new funding and new programs. Hence, more programs are established, especially by the federal government. See the case for September 11 attack above.

Futurism and technological changes.

The growing complexity of society, new needs of the population, and more sophisticated technology and science—all raise new complicated social and political problems. Government responds by expanding bureaucracies and adding expert personnel, specializing in specific technologies. These bureaucrats with detailed technical knowledge in specific areas, interpret and solve the new social and political problems that arise due to growing complexity and new needs of the population.

Examples are specific technologies such as: use of nuclear energy to reduce air pollution; regulation of roads’ safety due to increase use of electronic cars; regulation of medical’s organ transplantation from one body to another, and; regulation of the internet and social media while preserving the freedom of speech.

Weber, reminder from Topic 3 on the characteristics of the Ideal Type of Bureaucracy. (Correction: Topic 3, not Topic 2).

Formal theory. Weber, seven characteristics of the Ideal Type of Bureaucracy: Division of labor, hierarchy, rules and procedures, files and records, professionalism and merit, career service, and impersonal relations. Parkinson Law and Peter Principle below provide striking counter examples to Weberian bureaucracy.

Bureaucratic power. Read and pay attention to pp. 17-26.

Growth and power according to Parkinson.

Parkinson Law was coined by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in a humorous essay in the Economist in 1955. Accordingly, work expands to fill the time allocated. The amount of work required adjusts to the time available for its completion. “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Bureaucracy then tends to grow, needs more time/personnel, disproportionately to the function/work it has to perform. But personnel growth does not reflect the volume of work. And bureaucrats also create work one to another (inefficiency).

Finally, when a supervisor controls more personnel/subordinates, it encourages horizontal growth of personnel under the supervisor. The supervisor thus accumulates more power as (s)he is in charge of more personnel. At the same time, vertical growth above the supervisor means less power to this supervisor. The supervisor would discourage that.

Power and incompetency according to Peter Principle.

The Peter Principle was identified by sociologist Laurence J. Peter in a 1968 book. Peter Principle observes that the tendency in most organizational hierarchies is for every employee to rise in the hierarchy through promotion, until the employee reaches a level of incompetence. Peter Principle states that \”In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.\”

The idea is that a successful member of hierarchical organization who performs competently in a job, eventually will be promoted to the highest level of competence. The next promotion raises this member to a level at which (s)he is incompetent. Most positions are then occupied by personnel unsuitable for the jobs. The personnel doing the competent and hard work are those who still did not achieve their level of incompetence.

Sources of bureaucratic power: constituency support, legislative support, budget, civil service, expertise and technical information.

As we finish this topic and approaching the end of the course, here is a short reminder/list of the sources of bureaucratic power; or the sources of administrative agency’s power.

Constituency support—Citizens and groups that need that specific bureaucracy/agency.

Legislative support—Elected officials that budget that specific bureaucracy/agency.

Executive branch support—Government agencies that collaborate, work with, that specific bureaucracy/agency. ,

Civil service support—Permanency/tenure of the civil service provides longer-range safety and security (preservation) to that specific bureaucracy/agency.

Expertise, knowledge, and technical information—the ultimate power of that specific bureaucracy/agency.

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