CAS PO 331 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Fire Alarm System, Desegregation

• School: Boston University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: CAS PO 331
• Professor: Kate Krimmel

Document Summary

Congress does not want to do all the regulating. Insulates them from potentially unpopular decisions and images. Restricts the influence of the president and party control. Headed by a board of directors who uses majority rule. Appointed by the president (need consent of senate) Sometimes congress gives the president more power and allow for commissions. The president is technically the head because they are executive agencies. Principal agent problem: misaligned incentives between the principal and the agent. Agencies can make decisions that are different from what congress or the president may have done. Most agencies have to go to a congressional hearing before appropriations. Congress requires agencies to report and congress gives agencies what it expected of them. Police control is costly and hard to monitor. Fire alarm monitoring is done by citizens and interest groups. Sanctions can happen if agencies are not faithful and also can be reorganized.