Administrative Power

1
Lecture 4

• Administrative Power

2
Power and Administration Norton E. Long

• What is administrative power?
• Why is it important? (Lifeblood of
  administration)
• How is administrative power attained and
  maintained?
• What are the appropriate ends or purposes of the
  contest for power in administration?
• Will the administrative struggle necessarily, if
  left unchecked, produce a coordinated, effective,
  and responsible public policy?

3
The Political Environment to Administrative Power

• Structure
• Fragmented institutions of the political system
• A lack of centralization
• Separation of power
• Check and balance
• Judicial review
• Federalism
• What are the purposes of having a fragmented
  structure of government?

4
Competition for Power

• Conflicts among and within branches of government
• The lack of cohesive political majorities within
  the two houses
• Shifting political coalitions
• Fuzziness public policies
• Skeletal legislations
• Legislative delegation

5
Factional Conflicts between Two Major Parties

• No strict party disciplines
• American political party system fails to provide
  political support and leadership for
  administrative agencies
• Fails to protect administrative agencies from
  political pressures
• Attainment of administrative power through public
  relations and mobilization of support
• Develop relationship with clientele
• Conflicting clientele groups

6
Presidents

• Expected to provide leadership
• Represent conflicting constituent groups
• No unified majority for public policies
• seek to avoid a leading role in giving detailed
  direction
• Must be all things to all people or many things
  to many people
• Administrative agencies are not able to rely
  routinely on executive political support

7
Factional Politics

• Competing interest groups
• Pluralism and individualism
• competition for influence in a particular subject
  area
• Fierce competition in certain policy areas
• Advance their policy preferences
• Pressure on administrative agencies

8
Some Generalizations about Administrative Power

• Formal positions cannot reveal actual power and
  influence of administration.
• Administrative power is derived from formal and
  informal sources.
• The political system and structure normally do
  not provide sufficient power for administrative
  agencies to implement public programs.
• Agencies must balance between efficiency and
  survival goals.

9
Sources of Administrative Power

• Bureaucratic expertise
• Information
• specialization
• Legislative support
• Executive power
• Budgeting office
• Interagency alliances
• Clientele support
• The general public