Bureaucratic Power in American Government: An Analysis

Introduction: The Bureaucracy in American Government

In his article "Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power," Peter Woll discusses the administrative branch of the government and the various departments that control the funds which keep federal and state governments functioning. The bureaucracy is a highly influential part of the government and exerts a degree of control over both the President and Congress, while facing far fewer legal checks on its actions than either of those bodies must contend with. It has proven difficult to find ways to limit the influence of the bureaucracy when the Constitution does not clearly address the matter — a serious problem, since the Constitution is the basis for all legislation in the country.

An additional difficulty has been determining which branch should oversee administration. Alexander Hamilton believed this was the job of the President and the Executive Branch, which in turn gave rise to the concept of "presidential supremacy." Congress, on the other hand, also holds some control, since it is the body empowered to create or disband departments within the bureaucracy. As it now stands, the organization of the bureaucracy is convoluted, and this leads to corruption, malfeasance, and a lack of effective checks on the various departments.

Wilson on the Rise of the Bureaucratic State

In his article "The Rise of the Bureaucratic State," James Q. Wilson asserts that the United States government's problems with the bureaucracy are a relatively new phenomenon, one that did not exist during the country's first century and a half. He argues that there are three conditions by which a bureaucracy can expand to the point of becoming a serious problem: the growth of an administrative department beyond any meaningful control; the transfer of power over a bureaucracy to a private person or business, placing it outside the parameters of public authority; or the granting of authority to a public group that has no interest in serving the greater good.

Most government agencies expand in response to citizen demand for more services, but this is not always the case. The military, for example, has grown into such a large organization that, according to Wilson, it can operate with little regard for the three branches of government. Overall, the separation of departments has produced fragmentation, and the situation is unlikely to be resolved — rather, the problem is likely to grow ever more convoluted over time.

The Executive Branch and the Role of Bureaucracy

The Executive Branch of the government is tasked with enforcing the laws created by the Legislative Branch. The bureaucracy is a component of this branch, comprising agencies each responsible for administering one area of society — whether education, homeland security, or another domain. Many Americans distrust the bureaucracy and doubt that it serves the public good, but those involved in government understand that it is absolutely necessary in a large society, because elected politicians cannot perform all the tasks required to maintain the country. In fact, many duties that once belonged to Congress have been transferred to agencies within the Executive Branch.

People may dislike the bureaucracy because of the perception that it fails to get things done efficiently. Nevertheless, the readings make the case that this system is the best available option given the nature of the American government and the wide-ranging responsibilities of its various agencies.