Intro Stuff: Bureaucracy (the real meaning) = A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials, where authority is divided among several managers and/or departments. Bureaucracies have come to be associated with “waste, confusion, red tape, and rigidity.”  We blame many of our problems on “the bureaucracy.”  But in actuality, many of the problems are a result of the actions of Congress, the courts, and the president.

I.                      Distinctiveness of the American Bureaucracy

1.          Bureaucratic government is a part of all modern societies.  However, the United States has three aspects of constitutional system and political traditions that make it distinctive.

i.                      Political authority over the bureaucracy is shared among several institutions rather than placed into one set of hands.  This contrasts with systems such as the British one, where the prime minister rules supreme (in theory).

ii.                     Most agencies of the federal government share functions with related agencies in state and local government.  This contrasts with systems present in places like France, where the things like education, health, housing, etc. are centralized, with little or no local control.

iii.                    American institutions and traditions have given rise to an “adversary culture,” one where personal rights are given central importance.  In other words, we argue more with every decision made by the government.  However, in Sweden, similar decisions go largely uncontested.

2.          Also, the scope of the United States government differs from most others.  Many European governments own companies that make automobiles and tobacco.  Here, however, we are regulated to an extent not found in other countries.  We choose regulation over ownership.