Federal Government Reorganization

This textbook reader discusses the importance of organization and reorganization in the contemporary structure of the American federal government. First, it deals with the decision to change structural arrangements within the bureaucracy. Through a range of conceptual readings, it explores why reorganization and changing the structure of government continues to happen, allowing the reader to understand the multiple and often conflicting goals involved in changing organizational structure. It highlights two contrasting approaches to reorganization: a management approach and a policy approach.Secondly, it discusses the consequences of reorganization activity by focusing on the results of a number of federal government reorganizations. The examples include the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Education, and proposals to establish a U.S. Department of Food Safety.This is an ideal text for courses in public management, public policy, and political science courses covering the Presidency and Congress.

The Politics of Federal Reorganization: Creating the U.S. Department of Education deals with the politics underlying the creation and early implementation of the U.S. Department of Education, with emphasis on the characteristics and dimensions of the stages of the policy process. The literature on reorganization in general, and federal government reorganization in particular, is examined. Comprised of nine chapters, this volume provides a glimpse into the reasons why reorganization efforts are ubiquitous and yet very difficult to implement. A number of themes are discussed: the importance of the stages of the policy process in shaping the nature of political action; the internal tensions within the executive branch; the conflict between the culture of analysis and the culture of politics; the role of interest groups and issue networks in shaping public policy; and the continuing uncertainty about the federal role in education. Jimmy Carter's goals in establishing a new Department of Education are also analyzed, along with the deliberations in Congress and Ronald Reagan's proposals to abolish the department. This monograph will be of interest to political scientists, politicians, policymakers, and government officials.