CONTROLLING THE BUREAUCRACY
Organization and Reorganization
Solution to problem
Factors in Organization
Nature of problem
Personalities
Political dynamics
Organizational theories in vogue at time
Factors can change over time
Lead to reorganization
Many federal reorganizations
Since 1985, every state has implemented an executive branch reorganization program
Subject only to a legislative veto
Not the case in Texas
Governor is chief executive
Has little real power over the executive
branch
Texas
reorganizations
Numerous attempts
Legislative initiatives
Gubernatorial initiatives
Calls for a new constitution
Gubernatorial initiatives
Usually fail
Reorganize on a piecemeal basis
Not always rational
Effect minor shifts in priorities
Failure of 1974 Constitutional Convention
Creation of Hobby-Clayton Committee
(1975)
Review governmental structure
Made recommendations for change
Legislature enacted some and ignored
others
1990s – effect to reorganize government
Governor Richards and Comptroller Sharp
Reorganize to save taxpayer money
Proposed a cabinet form of government
Incoming governor would be able to remove all members of boards and commissions
Also
wanted to consolidate programs into fewer agencies
Legislature actually abolished a few agencies and consolidated others in 1991
Comptroller
now has an ongoing agency review process
Find
it on the comptroller’s Webpage
Legislature delegates decision-making authority to executive agencies
Legislative
oversight: keep tabs on what the
agencies are doing
Review of rules and regulations
Performance reviews
Sunset reviews
Review of staff size
Response to constituent complaints
Remember
that most bureaucrats are not elected
Sunset
process
Establish a date at which agencies will cease to exist
Forces
a review of executive agencies
In
use in three-fourths of the states
Texas
Sunset Act of 1977
Required
the creation of a new agency, the Sunset Advisory Commission
Four state senators
Four state representatives
Public member appointed by senate president
Public member appointed by house speaker
12-year
life span for agencies
Agency must submit a self-evaluation
Commission staff investigates agency
Makes a recommendation to the legislature
Recommendation could be to close agency
Continuation always comes with some changes
Conflict-of-interest regulation
Career ladders for employees
Merit-pay systems
Public notification of hearings
Placement of state funds in state treasury
Establishment of a complaint process
Adoption of equal opportunity policy
Sunset
review process has had mixed results
1993-attempt to repeal sunset review
1999-25 agencies reviewed, 23 continued, 1 abolished, 1 merged with other agency
Elected public official face challenges in controlling bureaucracy
Creation in an atmosphere of public
outrage
“Must do something to regulate
something”
Original role as independent watchdogs
“We’re watching industry”
A captured agency
Surrender to the industry being
regulated
Example:
“Since 1981, the Texas Railroad Commission has served the oil industry.”
Ad run by the Railroad Commission and paid for by two oil and gas industry associations
Iron triangle
Revolving door