PLSC 2003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Muddling Through, Incrementalism, Outsourcing
3 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Play a central role in modern gov"t. The way it is structured affects ability to accomplish tasks. Gov"t has grown for several reasons: increasing complexity of society, public attitude toward business has changed, change in attitude regarding gov"t role on social welfare. Americans want smaller gov"t that works better (cost effectiveness) Tendency for big gov"t reflects tension btw majoritarianism & pluralism. Departments 14: state, treasury, defense, interior, agriculture, justice, commerce, labor, health and human services, housing and urban development, transportation, energy, Gov"t corporations: fannie mae and freddie mac. National bureaucracy staffed by 2. 8 million civilian employees. Pendleton act established civil service commission: designed to reduce patronage ( they want ppl to know what they"re doing) Strict interview system -> find best fit human resources. Incoming president can appoint 3,000 ppl to administration jobs. Presidents find bureaucracy not always responsive: result of pluralism. Congress cab override regulations it doesn"t like. Congress grants agency authority to make certain policy decisions.
