Modern Bureaucracy: Government vs. Private Sector
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Questions and Answers

The provided information suggests that the federal bureaucracy has consistently grown over time.

False (B)

Which of the following best describes the primary role of federal bureaucrats?

  • Elected officials responsible for policy making
  • Career government employees working in the executive branch (correct)
  • Political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the president
  • Members of Congress who oversee government agencies

Besides executive departments and independent agencies, name another significant employer of federal civilian workers.

U.S. Postal Service

Federal employees are typically paid according to the '________ ________' (GS).

<p>General Schedule</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which president proposed a plan to consolidate numerous domestic agencies into 'super departments'?

<p>Richard M. Nixon (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which action did the Clinton administration take to reform the bureaucracy?

<p>Halved the growing number of federal regulations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The number of federal workers includes uniformed military personnel.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the president with their bureaucratic reform efforts:

<p>Calvin Coolidge = Cut staff by 2 percent Richard M. Nixon = Proposed combining agencies into super departments Bill Clinton = Cut federal workforce and regulations George W. Bush = Prioritized bureaucratic reform and paperless government</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the PRIMARY criterion used to select most civilian federal governmental employees today?

<p>Merit standards (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driving force for private businesses, as opposed to government entities?

<p>Profit motive (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Merit systems protect federal employees from being fired for poor performance.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Governments can learn nothing from business practices.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of examinations are mentioned as examples of merit-based selection?

<p>Civil service and foreign service exams</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an important consideration when initiating positive change in the modern bureaucracy?

<p>Understanding how organization and personnel affect each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

At the lower levels of the U.S. Civil Service, most positions are filled by ________ examinations.

<p>competitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

One of the primary differences between government and business is that government is funded by ________.

<p>taxpayers</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following application methods is MOST likely to be used for mid-level to upper-range federal positions?

<p>Resume submission (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do public employees typically view risks and rewards differently compared to their private-sector counterparts?

<p>The incentive in government 'is in the direction of not making mistakes'. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The names of all those deemed qualified are forwarded to the official filling the vacancy regardless of how well they fit the particular job opening.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what percentage of the federal workforce is NOT covered by the civil service system?

<p>10 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following:

<p>Private Business Goal = To make money Government Goal = Public good Private Funding = From customers Government Funding = From taxpayers</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides Cabinet secretaries, which of the following positions requires Senate confirmation?

<p>Independent regulatory commissioners (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the modern bureaucracy is key to understand?

<p>Who bureaucrats are, how the bureaucracy is organized, and how organization and personnel affect each other. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The size of state and local bureaucracies has remained constant over time.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason the federal government might choose to use outside contractors instead of federal employees?

<p>Contractors are typically easier and cheaper to fire than federal employees. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The number of civilian agencies in the federal government is estimated to be less than 500.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name two strategies the federal government is considering to attract and retain federal workers.

<p>Paying college loans; enhancing benefits</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cabinet departments constitute approximately ______ percent of the federal workforce.

<p>60</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinctive feature of the executive bureaucracy?

<p>Its traditional division into areas of specialization. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a general type of agency?

<p>Private Institutions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Departmental status usually indicates what about a governmental function?

<p>A permanent national interest. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of agencies with their descriptions:

<p>Cabinet Departments = Major administrative units responsible for a broad area of government operations. Government Corporations = Agencies carrying out business-like activities, often generating revenue. Independent Agencies = Agencies outside the cabinet departments with a specific focus. Regulatory Commissions = Agencies responsible for setting and enforcing rules in specific sectors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Once appointed, how does a commissioner's relationship with the president typically evolve?

<p>They become independent of the president's direct political influence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The U.S. Postal Service currently has a large number of patronage positions such as local postmaster, available as government jobs.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the U.S. bureaucracy's decentralization into regional offices?

<p>To enhance efficiency and accessibility to the public</p> Signup and view all the answers

Having regional offices in different cities helps distribute jobs and across the country.

<p>incomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the agency characteristic with its effect:

<p>Decentralized regional offices = Increased public accessibility Graying federal workforce = Potential shortfall in experienced managers Independent Commissioners = Reduced presidential influence</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the effects of the decentralization of the U.S. bureaucracy?

<p>Distribution of jobs and incomes across the country. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Presidential Management Fellows Program was created to address the potential shortfall in experienced managers due to the aging federal workforce.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concern does the 'graying' of the federal workforce raise?

<p>A potential shortfall in experienced managers. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Modern Bureaucracy

The system of administration in government and business organizations that follows rules and procedures to manage operations.

Private Business vs Government

Private businesses operate for profit while governments exist for public good and services.

Profit Motive

The incentive for businesses to generate financial gains through sales and services to customers.

Reelection

The process by which government officials seek to be voted into office again, influencing their decisions and actions.

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Incentives in Government

Government employees are motivated to avoid mistakes rather than innovate due to the risk of public scrutiny.

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Bureaucratic Organization

The hierarchical structure and regulations that dictate how an organization, especially in government, operates.

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Accountability in Government

It's often challenging to pinpoint responsibility in government mistakes due to its complex structure.

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Learning from Business

Government can adopt business practices to improve efficiency and service delivery, despite structural differences.

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Federal Bureaucracy

The system of government organizations at the federal level responsible for executing laws and policies.

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Bureaucrats

Career government employees working in the executive branch, including Cabinet-level departments and independent agencies.

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General Schedule (GS)

A pay scale for federal workers that determines salary based on job grade and experience.

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Federal Workforce Size

Approximately 1.8 million federal workers in the U.S. executive branch, excluding postal and military personnel.

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Reform Efforts

Initiatives by past presidents to reduce federal bureaucracy and improve efficiency.

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Clinton Administration

Implemented cuts to the federal workforce and aimed to improve customer service in agencies.

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George W. Bush's Initiatives

Prioritized bureaucratic reform and promoted a paperless government.

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U.S. Postal Service

Employs nearly one-third of all civilian federal workers in the U.S.

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Merit Standards

Criteria based on tests and educational requirements for hiring federal employees.

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Civil Service Exams

Tests used to evaluate candidates for federal employment.

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Firing Protections

Merit systems safeguard federal employees from dismissal for political reasons.

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Lower-level Positions

Positions filled through competitive written exams in the federal civil service.

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Mid-level Hiring

Candidates often submit resumes without taking tests for mid to upper-level positions.

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Appointive Policy-making Positions

High-level roles filled by presidential appointees, some needing Senate confirmation.

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Independent Regulatory Commissioners

Officials in charge of overseeing specific regulatory duties within the government.

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Bureaucratic Hierarchy

The structured layers of authority in a bureaucratic organization formed by high-level assistants.

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Commissioners

Appointed officials who operate independently after taking office, regardless of the president's influence.

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Political Patronage

Job positions that were once awarded by political leaders, such as the postmaster role.

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Decentralization

The distribution of government functions across various regions to enhance public accessibility.

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Social Security Administration

An agency with multiple regional offices for assisting clients with services and paperwork.

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Aging Workforce

Concern over a large number of bureaucrats approaching retirement age.

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Presidential Management Fellows Program

A program designed to recruit and train future managers for the federal government.

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Federal Workforce Distribution

The dispersion of federal employees across the nation's capital and regional offices.

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Mid-level Managers

Individuals in the government holding nonpolitical management roles, many nearing retirement.

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Federal Employee Outsourcing

Outsourcing federal jobs to private contractors to reduce workforce size.

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Cabinet Departments

Major administrative units responsible for broad areas of government operations, like defense or commerce.

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Civilian Agencies

Total of 1,149 distinct civilian agencies within the federal government.

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Division of Specialization

The bureaucracy is organized into areas of specialization, often overlapping in responsibilities.

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Long-term National Interest

Status of cabinet departments indicates their permanent importance to government functions.

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Recruitment Incentives

Strategies like paying college loans to attract potential federal employees.

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Job Security in Federal Jobs

Federal employees are difficult to remove from their positions.

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Federal Workforce Composition

Cabinet departments account for about 60% of the entire federal workforce.

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Study Notes

Modern Bureaucracy

  • The study is about modern bureaucracy, focusing on differences between private businesses and government
  • Private businesses aim for profit, motivated by customer satisfaction
  • Government prioritizes public service and reelection, funded by taxpayers
  • Difficulty assigning blame for governmental mistakes, a problem contrasted with private businesses
  • Governments can learn from successes and failures of business in terms of reform
  • Government incentives focus on avoiding mistakes, whereas private sector views risks and rewards differently
  • Key to modern bureaucracy is understanding bureaucratic structure, personnel, and how they affect each other
  • Running government like a business is inappropriate due to inherent differences in motivation, responsibility, and organizational structure
  • Growth of state and local bureaucracies, contrasted with discussion limited to the federal bureaucracy
  • Historical attempts to reform the bureaucracy include cuts in staff, combining departments, regulations, and customer service improvements
  • Bureaucrats are career government employees working in the executive branch, Cabinet-level departments, and independent agencies
  • Federal workers are distributed among different executive departments and agencies across the United States
  • Most federal employees are paid based on the General Schedule (GS) levels, increasing with progression in their careers
  • Federal employees are selected based on merit standards including tests and educational criteria, protecting them from political firings
  • Lower level positions in the U.S. Civil Service are frequently filled by competitive examinations
  • Mid-level to upper-level positions may use resume submission or phone application instead of tests
  • Personnel departments evaluate candidates based on their fit for the job opening
  • Appointive policy-making jobs are filled by presidential appointees, who are often Cabinet Secretaries requiring Senate confirmation
  • Independent regulatory commissions are appointed by the president, but become independent after taking office
  • Low-level bureaucratic positions such as local postmasters were once largely patronage positions; this has generally changed to positions like assistance to policy makers
  • About 326,000 federal workers are located in the nation's capital, and the rest are distributed among regional, state and local offices across the country
  • Decentralization facilitates public access to services and distribute jobs and income across the country
  • A significant portion of top-level federal employees are eligible for retirement
  • Federal government tries to retain and recruit workers, as well as reduce the number of employees using contractors
  • Government agencies are considering paying college loans for recruits and offering benefits to attract older workers
  • Agencies aim to outsource jobs to reduce costs
  • The Federal bureaucracy is comprised of departments, government corporations, independent agencies, and regulatory commissions
  • Cabinet departments focus on broad areas of government operations, indicating a long-term national concern like defense, commerce, or agriculture
  • Bureaucracy is made up of agencies and institutions that implement government policies, programs, and laws

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Description

Explore the differences between modern bureaucracy in government and private businesses. While private businesses focus on profit and customer satisfaction, government aims for public service and reelection, using taxpayer funds. Understand bureaucratic structure and personnel to see how they affect each other.

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