ABSTRACT
This chapter examines various aspects of the bureaucracy. In a broad sense, bureaucracy denotes the large formal structural and procedural arrangements of large complex organizations. W. Niskanen’s suggestions to improve the performance of the bureaucracy include privatization, increased competition among agencies, and tighter legislative and executive oversight. Ideal bureaucracies operate according to a consistent system of formal abstract rules and standard operating procedures. Impersonality is a significant characteristic of the ideal bureaucracy. Supervisors maintain social distance with their subordinates. Formal record keeping of all its activities is one of the distinguishing features of a bureaucracy. In terms of public organizations, bureaucrats are employees who work in the executive branch at the state, federal, or local levels of government. Implementation is the process of putting laws into practice, and it is the core responsibility of the bureaucracy. A number of institutions exert considerable power over the bureaucracy. Some institutions have formal control while others have informal control.
