Bureaucracy is a system of government where decision making process is made by the state officials rather than the elected representatives. In United States, the bureaucracy seems to remain large despite the desire by the general public to limit it. Large organizations, corporations, unions, and merchandizing chains plays a role in our lives in as they enhance bureaucracy. So too, do large government agencies. During the normal transactions, there is a low likelihood that the public will encounter the elected officials such as legislators, governors, mayor or the president. However, they will face the wrath of the bureaucrats who comprise of IRS agents, administrator in the motor-vehicles bureau, an agricultural extension agent, and welfare worker. It is due to the fact that the elected representatives' plays a role in the formulation of the policies while the interpretation and implementation remains on the hands of the technocrats.
The bureaucrats routinely make decisions that significantly affect the manner in which the government regulates or serves its citizens. The congress may pass the tax code, but it is the IRS agents who will make the decisions whether specific individuals' expenses qualify for such deductions. Besides, state legislators may enact programs which are designed to improve the skills of the students in schools, universities and colleges while the administrators are to make the decisions on which school to be used to roll out the program as well as the students who are eligible for funding. The legislators can make decisions concerning the formulation of the constitution while the judiciary is to interpret and the police to implement it. The power to make such decisions is given to them deliberately since the state legislators do not have the expertise to execute these decisions. The elected officials have neither time nor specialized competence to make such decisions. It thus means that these powers are rendered to them for the purposes of achieving efficiency and to take advantage of the professional competence which most of the bureaucrats possess. Due to the fact that hiring, promotion and firing depends on the judgment of the political class, the public are not allowed to take part in such decision. These deny them the rights to receive equitable redistribution of resources since the technocrats work towards pleasing the political class hence fulfilling their interests as oppose to peoples' interests. Therefore, there is a dire concern to make vital changes for the selection of the technocrats since even though people prefer less government involvement, the expertise of the bureaucratic is very vital.
It can be evident that the actions of the bureaucrats cannot be eliminated but be control to suit the interest of the people. There are two main strategies which can be used. They comprise of agency organization, monitoring and controlling violations. For instance, when an agency is first established or given new responsibilities, the officials must not tell an agency what they are supposed to do but ensure that it is properly located within the federal government structure. The limits can also be imposed to regulate who runs the agencies. These will control the manner in which decisions are made hence uplifting the public's interests. Besides, the congress should form a committee of experts to ensure that when laws are passed, they are implemented correctly so as to prevent violations. The oversight programs should be started to guarantee that the procedures were adhered to and the implementation process meets the set standards. However, before these are implemented, the direct democracy should be enhanced. The decisions concerning the funding, budgets, candidate removal, constitution amendments and policy changes should be on the hands of the people. These will ensure that the process is efficient thus enabling the bureaucrats to work towards the interest of the general public.
Therefore, even though bureaucrats are at a point engage in activities which violate the interest of the general public, their services are still needed. Therefore, the above mentioned strategies should be implemented in totality to warrant quality service to the general public.
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References
Chapter 12: The Bureaucracy | American Politics Today, 2e: W. W. Norton StudySpace. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/american-politics-today2/full/ch/12/outline.aspx
Controlling Bureaucracies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft1g500470&chunk.id=d0e200&toc.id=d0e200&brand=ucpress
Niskanen, W. A., & Houghton, D. (2001). Bureaucracy: servant or master?: lessons from America. London: Institute of Economic Affairs.
Skocpol, T., & Fiorina, M. P. (Eds.). (2004). Civic engagement in American democracy. Brookings Institution Press.
Stillman, R. J. (2014). The American bureaucracy: The core of modern government. Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Wilson, J. Q. (2010). Bureaucracy: What government agencies do and why they do it.
