The document compares the bureaucracies of the US federal government and UK civil service. Both play central roles in policymaking for their respective governments, though the US bureaucracy is more decentralized across various departments and agencies. While civil servants in the UK receive guidance from permanent secretaries, leadership in the US changes with each new administration. Both systems face pressures of "agencification" through the growth of semi-autonomous bodies, and job losses, but the US system is more influenced by patronage and political appointments compared to the UK's permanent career structure.

1. BUREAUCRACIESBUREAUCRACIES
US FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY &US FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY &
UK CIVIL SERVICEUK CIVIL SERVICE

2. ROLESROLES
 Similar rolesSimilar roles
 Both sit at the heart of their respective govtBoth sit at the heart of their respective govt
administrationsadministrations
 Both expected to find themselves in theBoth expected to find themselves in the
policymaking process but to varyingpolicymaking process but to varying
degrees…………………………………………degrees…………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………..…………………………………………..

3. DEPT. HEADSDEPT. HEADS
 US – less prominent party figures; rarelyUS – less prominent party figures; rarely
have a political career that extends beyondhave a political career that extends beyond
the patronage of the Presidentthe patronage of the President
 In contrast to UK no regular constituency orIn contrast to UK no regular constituency or
congressional duties and less sure of seeingcongressional duties and less sure of seeing
their legislation on the statute booktheir legislation on the statute book
 Ministers in UK advised by permanentMinisters in UK advised by permanent
career civil servants/ permanent secscareer civil servants/ permanent secs
 US – heads, undersecs & assistant secsUS – heads, undersecs & assistant secs
appointed by new administrationappointed by new administration

4. COMPOSITIONCOMPOSITION
 US – largest part of federal govtUS – largest part of federal govt
includes variety of depts, offices,includes variety of depts, offices,
agencies & commissions each withagencies & commissions each with
their own interests and agendastheir own interests and agendas
 Bureaucrats dealing with day to dayBureaucrats dealing with day to day
issues permanent like in the UKissues permanent like in the UK
 Rarely sacked but both subject to jobRarely sacked but both subject to job
losseslosses

5. POLICYMAKINGPOLICYMAKING
 Both civil servants & federalBoth civil servants & federal
bureaucrats give precise meaning tobureaucrats give precise meaning to
policy – US – IEAs provide focus inpolicy – US – IEAs provide focus in
each specific area and may acteach specific area and may act
independently of executive depts egsindependently of executive depts egs
CIACIA

6. AGENCIFICATIONAGENCIFICATION
 UK – like in the US, since 1980sUK – like in the US, since 1980s
growth of semi-autonomous agenciesgrowth of semi-autonomous agencies
– Next Steps– Next Steps
 Other similar developments – growthOther similar developments – growth
of political appointees in the UKof political appointees in the UK
 Spoils system in the USSpoils system in the US

7. OTHER COMPARISONSOTHER COMPARISONS
 US – decentralised bureaucracy-federalUS – decentralised bureaucracy-federal
bureaucracy operates under the formalbureaucracy operates under the formal
authority of the President as chiefauthority of the President as chief
administrator – difficult & unwieldyadministrator – difficult & unwieldy
 Impact of separation of powers – number ofImpact of separation of powers – number of
IRCs created and funded by Congress.IRCs created and funded by Congress.
President may appoint members but cannotPresident may appoint members but cannot
interfer with their responsibities as laid downinterfer with their responsibities as laid down
by Congress or dismiss themby Congress or dismiss them
 Counter bureaucracies and Iron trianglesCounter bureaucracies and Iron triangles