Chapter 11 Review
On the issue of the size of federal service, the author provide figure to demonstrate that the size has been declining for the last 35 years, contrary to views expressed by politicians. Consequently, the fear that bureaucracies are expanding is misplaced because the number of people working for these agencies have been reducing. According to the author, the last time the public service was very large was in 1968 when there were 3.0 million civilian employees plus 6.0 military officers. The number declined to 2.8 million in 2010. Besides, the author argues that the ratio of federal employment to total workforces has been declining since 1950s.
According to the author bureaucrats fill the most important roles with regard to the functions of Congress. The Congress makes laws that are general and broad in parameters. The bureaucracies on the other hand determine how such laws are implemented. Therefore, Congress requires the help of bureaucracies to develop more detailed laws and guidance with regard to enforcement of laws. According to the author, department and agencies, translates the laws into specific rules and enforce those rules. Therefore, the Congress needs bureaucracies in law making and implementation. Bureaucracies employ experts who have specialized knowledge on policy areas. Apart from sourcing experts from .bureaucracies, Congress also need bureaucracy to ensure that laws are enforced in a manner that factors new conditions thus save Congressmen from continuous change of laws.
On how to become a bureaucrat, the author argues that the Civil Service Act of 1883 adopted by states and local governments provide recruitment guidelines. The laws require appointees that hiring process be based on qualification attained from competitive examinations. This is referred to as the merit system which was put to end political appointments. Once hired through merit system, the public service employees are cushioned from arbitrary sacking by the laws. This according to the author was meant to protect bureaucracy from political interference.
NOTE 8B
According to the author, federal agency promotes public welfare. This is done through provision of various services and regulations’he agencies build infrastructure and draft laws and policies that improve well being of Americans. Others agencies administer programs such as federal school lunch and food stamps. Some such as Food and Drug Administration promotes public welfare by regulating production, distribution and retail of commodities.
One of the environmental agencies mentioned by the author under public welfare promotion is the National Park Service. This agency was established in 1916 to manage and protect national parks. According, to the author, environmental protection is viewed as government duty by most Americans. Therefore, by extension, the agency promotes public welfare by ensuring that the ecosystem in the national parks is not interfered with.
Indeed, the Park Service promotes the welfare of the public. It protects the animal and plants found in the park. Thus, they are preserved for both current and future generations. The packs are open for visitors who get to see wildlife and appreciate nature. The species found in the parks are also used for scientific research related to drug development. All these advance human course.
NOTE 8C
The oversight role of the Congress over bureaucracies has been extensively discussed by the author. The state department and agencies are created by laws made by the congress. Their responsibilities are also defined in the law. Once they are established, the congress exercise influence over them through various committees and sub committees. These committees conduct hearings and investigations concerning several issues affecting the agencies. They have powers to summon bureaucrats to come and defend the budget of their agencies and decisions. Besides, the Congress has other offices that conduct research on problems confronting the agencies with a view of making laws that can change the situation. The author argues that since 1970s, the number of Congressional committee sittings has increase. Meaning, the Congress has continuously discharged its oversight roles.
NOTE 9A
Concerning the history of welfare programs, the author argues that before 1930 the welfare programs were administered by private companies and individuals. The involuntary donations were done by churches, religious groups, and communities. The programs were referred to as charity. However, the charity was seriously affected by the great depression. The depression led to decline in private wealth, high unemployment rates and diminished saving. After depression, the government started to recognize poverty as problem in US. Consequently, the executive and Congress began to thinks about public welfare system and the form it should take.
Social Security Act was enacted in 1935 to respond to the problem that confronted the nations after great depression. The act created two categories of social welfare programs which include, contributory and non contributory. Contributory programs are funded by the recipients and taxes. The program compels any working America to contribute part of his/her salary for future income and benefits. They include old age insurance system, Medicare and Unemployment Compensation. Non contributory programs provide assistance to needy people based on specific criterion. They include food stamp and school lunch program.
NOTE 9B
Education provides means through which wealth is distributed and redistributed in the society. According to the author, it is one of the most valued achievements by Americans. Consequently, it is mainly provided by public sector. The role of educations is to enable individuals acquire knowledge and skills that enables her/she to function well in society. These are rendered to as life tools. Application of these life tools spurs economic progress, innovation and creativity. Thus, those countries with good education policies produce more thinkers, scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators. In United States, the National Defense Education Act and ‘No child left behind act’ were all meant to ensure that education provides life tools.
There is a relationship between health policies and the number of healthy people in a country. Health policies are developed to lower the number of sick people through interventions such as affordable healthcare. According to the author, the relationship between policy and health status was exhibited as early as 1884. In Massachusetts, the infant mortality rate decreased by 161.3 per 1000 to 141.4 per 1000 between 1884 and 1894 after it had adopted public health agency. .
NOTE 9C
According to the author, the working poor receive very little from government. These people work for organizations, people and companies that do not provide pension or health to their employees. Besides, working poor are renters who find it hard to buy homes. As a result, they are locked from benefiting from programs enjoyed by middle class. Their employment status means that they cannot benefit from Medicaid and TANF which benefits non working poor. The only programs that provide assistance to this group of people are EITC and food stamps.
