Gov 141 Potus Ii

The Presidency & the Executive Branch

The President and the Pyramid • 1999: Bill Clinton is President. Seattle, WA is hosting a meeting of the World Trade Organization. The WTO has drawn the ire of numerous anti-globalization activists. Clinton, while free trade, wanted to take some of the protestors’ suggestions and make them a part of policy.

The Base or the Structural Level • International: The U.S. has long advocated for global policies of free trade and economic interdependence. This system has resulted in stability and prosperity for many nations abroad. At the same time, there are many foreign losers. • International: Commerce has advanced to the point where physical boundaries are less relevant.

The Base or the Structural Level • Economy: America’s companies and workers have largely benefited from the free trade system.

The Base or the Structural Level • Society: The American people are largely ambivalent to free trade. They resent it when it’s perceived to have cost them jobs. They give it rhetorical support otherwise.

The Base or the Structural Level • Constitution: Treaties are the law of the land under the constitution. America has ratified many treaties impacting free trade.

Political Linkages • Interest Groups: Business want free trade expansion and incorporation of rules favorable to them in trade agreements. • Interest Groups: Labor groups oppose free trade. • Interest Groups: Many left leaning organizations oppose free trade.

Political Linkages • Protests, Demonstrations- Should this be added to the pyramid? The interest groups protests’ take on a life of their own. At times they become violent.

Political Linkages • The Media: They cover the protests and attempt to get at the angst that causes them. They serve to bring attention to (some of the) protestors’ causes. • Elections: President Clinton wants to help Al Gore become President in 2000.

The Parties • Democrats: President Clinton has worked hard to create a new perception for Democrats. He supports free trade. At the same time, many in his party, including labor, oppose free trade expansion. • Republicans: Poised to support candidates against Democrats. If they can take advantage of free trade riffs, they will. (Typically close to business)

Political Linkages • Public Opinion: Public usually rhetorically supports free trade. There are no galvanizing events at this time to rally them to the anti-free trade crowd. Protestors may hurt the cause’s image among the public.

Government • Congress: Tends to be slightly free trade absent some galvanizing event. • Courts: Non-player for now.

Governmental Level • President Clinton: Strong believer in free trade with protections for the environment. Feels pressure from interest groups on both sides.

Policy • So the President endorses both sides… calls for more labor protection and environmental protections in WTO but supports more trade.

Federal Bureaucracy

Federal Bureaucracy • The totality of the departments and agencies of the executive branch of the national government.

Hostile Political Culture • Americans generally distrusting of government.

Civil Servants • Civil Service: Federal Government jobs held by civilian employees excluding political appointees. • Civil Servant: Government workers employed under the merit system. These are not political appointees.

Bureaucratic Hodgepodge • Incoherent organization… few clear lines of responsibility. • Divided control: Bureaucracy in many ways answers to two bosses- Congress and the President.

The Evolution of the Federal Bureaucracy in America • Post Civil War: Except for military in the south, fairly small. Bureau for unclaimed lands and Indian Affairs. Ag in response to farm crisis. • Early 20th Century: Bureaucracy expands to meet new needs: food and drug act, banking, anti-trust laws. Prohibition and anti-communism.

The Evolution of the Federal Bureaucracy in America • The Great Depression and the New Deal: Work for unemployed (WPA), relief for the poor, Social Security, agricultural subsidies, labor law enforcement. • WWII: Some war time controls and rationing. • Post-WWII: CIA, Department of Defense, Atomic Energy Commission, Anticommunism

The Evolution of the Federal Bureaucracy in America • The Regulatory State: Environmental protection, urban affairs, consumer protection, drug safety, education • The Reagan Devolution: From 1980-2001 we saw increasing rollbacks of government. The war on poverty was surrendered. Less oversight on the economy. Increase in war on drugs. Welfare reform. Largely Republican led.

The Evolution of the Federal Bureaucracy in America • Post 9/11: Homeland Security Department and the nationalization of airport security/baggage staff. Increase in scope of activities for NSA, CIA, FBI

The Executive Branch • Departments • Bureaus and Agencies • Independent Executive Agencies report to the President • Government Corporations: TVA, USPS • Quasi governmental orgs- Government involvement, outside control • Independent Regulatory Commissions- Control vested outside of political authority. (SEC) • Foundations- Private orgs with federal $$ and input.

Bureaucrats’ Jobs • Execute the law • Regulating (Fleshing out the law) • Adjudicating (not courts)

Civil Servants and Political Appointees • Civil Servants- Career oriented. Usually with agency for years. Have protections from political firings. • Political Appointees- Usually come in at the top of the bureaucracy. Serve at the whim of the President. Much more ideological. Only there for a short time.

Public Pressure and Bureaucracies • Public pressures bureaucracies usually only indirectly… public does pressure Congress and President directly. • President and Congress provide often contradictory or incomplete “orders” to bureaucracies after public pressure.

President’s Control over the Bureaucracy • Not absolute… ex. branch implements law. • Civil Servants have merit employee protection. • President doesn’t completely control the agencies purse. • Usually exercised through appointment of bureaucratic heads. Also has power to attempt to change the law, executive order

Congressional Control over the Bureaucracy • Not direct… more removed than the President’s. • Oversight: Are agencies doing what they’re supposed to be doing. • Appropriations: He who has the gold makes the rules… • Law: Executive branch implements and bound by the law… Congress can change.

Congressional Control over the Bureaucracy • Confirm Agency Heads • Inspector Generals

Reforming the Bureaucracy • Reorganizing bureaucracies • Privatizing government services • Whistleblower protections