The Politics of Presidential Appointments

The Politics of Presidential Appointments PDF Author: David E. Lewis
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400837685
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many questioned whether the large number of political appointees in the Federal Emergency Management Agency contributed to the agency's poor handling of the catastrophe, ultimately costing hundreds of lives and causing immeasurable pain and suffering. The Politics of Presidential Appointments examines in depth how and why presidents use political appointees and how their choices impact government performance--for better or worse. One way presidents can influence the permanent bureaucracy is by filling key posts with people who are sympathetic to their policy goals. But if the president's appointees lack competence and an agency fails in its mission--as with Katrina--the president is accused of employing his friends and allies to the detriment of the public. Through case studies and cutting-edge analysis, David Lewis takes a fascinating look at presidential appointments dating back to the 1960s to learn which jobs went to appointees, which agencies were more likely to have appointees, how the use of appointees varied by administration, and how it affected agency performance. He argues that presidents politicize even when it hurts performance--and often with support from Congress--because they need agencies to be responsive to presidential direction. He shows how agency missions and personnel--and whether they line up with the president's vision--determine which agencies presidents target with appointees, and he sheds new light on the important role patronage plays in appointment decisions.

The Politics of Presidential Appointments

The Politics of Presidential Appointments PDF Author: David E. Lewis
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400837685
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many questioned whether the large number of political appointees in the Federal Emergency Management Agency contributed to the agency's poor handling of the catastrophe, ultimately costing hundreds of lives and causing immeasurable pain and suffering. The Politics of Presidential Appointments examines in depth how and why presidents use political appointees and how their choices impact government performance--for better or worse. One way presidents can influence the permanent bureaucracy is by filling key posts with people who are sympathetic to their policy goals. But if the president's appointees lack competence and an agency fails in its mission--as with Katrina--the president is accused of employing his friends and allies to the detriment of the public. Through case studies and cutting-edge analysis, David Lewis takes a fascinating look at presidential appointments dating back to the 1960s to learn which jobs went to appointees, which agencies were more likely to have appointees, how the use of appointees varied by administration, and how it affected agency performance. He argues that presidents politicize even when it hurts performance--and often with support from Congress--because they need agencies to be responsive to presidential direction. He shows how agency missions and personnel--and whether they line up with the president's vision--determine which agencies presidents target with appointees, and he sheds new light on the important role patronage plays in appointment decisions.

The Politics of Presidential Appointments

The Politics of Presidential Appointments PDF Author: David E. Lewis
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691135444
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many questioned whether the large number of political appointees in the Federal Emergency Management Agency contributed to the agency's poor handling of the catastrophe, ultimately costing hundreds of lives and causing immeasurable pain and suffering. The Politics of Presidential Appointments examines in depth how and why presidents use political appointees and how their choices impact government performance--for better or worse. One way presidents can influence the permanent bureaucracy is by filling key posts with people who are sympathetic to their policy goals. But if the president's appointees lack competence and an agency fails in its mission--as with Katrina--the president is accused of employing his friends and allies to the detriment of the public. Through case studies and cutting-edge analysis, David Lewis takes a fascinating look at presidential appointments dating back to the 1960s to learn which jobs went to appointees, which agencies were more likely to have appointees, how the use of appointees varied by administration, and how it affected agency performance. He argues that presidents politicize even when it hurts performance--and often with support from Congress--because they need agencies to be responsive to presidential direction. He shows how agency missions and personnel--and whether they line up with the president's vision--determine which agencies presidents target with appointees, and he sheds new light on the important role patronage plays in appointment decisions.

The Politics of Presidential Appointments

The Politics of Presidential Appointments PDF Author: David E. Lewis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780691133423
Category : Administrative agencies
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many questioned whether the large number of political appointees in the Federal Emergency Management Agency contributed to the agency's poor handling of the catastrophe, ultimately costing hundreds of lives and causing immeasurable pain and suffering. The Politics of Presidential Appointments examines in depth how and why presidents use political appointees and how their choices impact government performance--for better or worse. One way presidents can influence the permanent bureaucracy is by filling key posts with people who are sympathetic to their policy goals. But if the president's appointees lack competence and an agency fails in its mission--as with Katrina--the president is accused of employing his friends and allies to the detriment of the public. Through case studies and cutting-edge analysis, David Lewis takes a fascinating look at presidential appointments dating back to the 1960s to learn which jobs went to appointees, which agencies were more likely to have appointees, how the use of appointees varied by administration, and how it affected agency performance. He argues that presidents politicize even when it hurts performance--and often with support from Congress--because they need agencies to be responsive to presidential direction. He shows how agency missions and personnel--and whether they line up with the president's vision--determine which agencies presidents target with appointees, and he sheds new light on the important role patronage plays in appointment decisions.

The Politics of Presidential Appointments

The Politics of Presidential Appointments PDF Author: G. Calvin Mackenzie
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 330

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Book Description


Science and Technology in the National Interest

Science and Technology in the National Interest PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309181283
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
In 2004, an ad hoc committee was charged with preparing this third report examining the most senior S&T appointments to federal government positions and updating the accompanying list of the most urgent S&T presidential appointments. Sufficient changes have occurred since the National Academies 2000 report on presidential appointmentsâ€"including the 2001 terrorist attacks, the anthrax deaths, the reorganization of homeland-security activities in the federal government, new developments in S&T, and concerns about the politicization of S&T decision making and adviceâ€"to warrant this new edition. In contrast with previous reports on the subject, this one covers not only presidential appointments to top S&T leadership positions but also the appointment of scientists, engineers, and health professionals to serve on federal advisory committees that focus on science-based policy or on the review of research proposals. The committee recognizes that other areas of federal responsibility are as important as S&T, but S&T appointments are the only ones within its purview.

The Politics of Presidential Appointments

The Politics of Presidential Appointments PDF Author: Jinhee Jo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government executives
Languages : en
Pages : 326

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Book Description
"This dissertation is a series of essays that explore the presidential appointment process using formal models and statistical data analysis. The first essay provides an answer to why appointments should be held up but eventually approved, which is a dynamic problem that has previously been analyzed with a static approach, by specifying a dynamic model which shows that the timing of Senate approval of presidential nominees depends on the president's popularity, the ideological distance between the president and the Senate, and their interaction. The model's implications are empirically consistent with data on appellate court nominations from 1977-2004. The second essay attempts to think carefully about whom presidents should want to appoint- those with preferences identical to the chief executive (as is often argued) or those whose preferences differ- and show that when a politically-appointed agency head cannot completely control her subordinates, the president is often better off appointing non-allies rather than allies. Finally, the third essay provides an explanation for why the president some- times appoints an incompetent and why the Senate is willing to confirm such nomination. Without assuming that political actors are inherently risk takers, this essay identifies conditions generating institutionally-induced risk taking, where both the president and the Senate propose and approve an incompetent administrator in equilibrium. The model corresponds with contemporary cases of seemingly incompetent administration"--Leaves v-vi.

Presidential Appointments to Full-time Positions

Presidential Appointments to Full-time Positions PDF Author: Henry B. Hogue
Publisher: Nova Biomedical Books
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 104

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Book Description
The Constitution empowers the president to nominate and, with 'the advice and consent of the Senate', to appoint the principal officers of the Unites States. This process is marked by three distinct stages: nomination, confirmation, and appointment. After the President submits an individual's name for nomination to a specific position, the nominee must then appear before the Senate, which holds hearings to decide whether to confirm the president's choice. If the Senate votes to approve the nominee, the president then appoints that person to assume the job. In recent years, though, this process has become increasingly partisan as Senate hearings have pitted Republican against Democrat in ideological battles over a nominee's fitness for government service. One of the most notable examples of President George W Bush's tenure was the confirmation debate over Attorney General John Ashcroft. However, the president has to make appointments to fill other, less high-profile positions in agencies such as the Postal Rate Commission and the Surface Transportation Board. The process tends to be deliberate, making for several vacancies in certain agencies, along with incumbents serving beyond their terms. This book provides an overview of the presidential appointment process, as well as descriptions of each federal agency the president is tasked to staff. Also included are lists of some of President Bush's nominees and their current status. The importance of presidential appointments is clear, as the nominees have the opportunity to influence the nation's agenda and direction. The analysis presented here then becomes needed in understanding an important constitutional process and its impact on the nation today.

Innocent Until Nominated

Innocent Until Nominated PDF Author: G. Calvin MacKenzie
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0815716664
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
According to outspoken presidential scholar Cal Mackenzie, the presidential appointments process is a national disgrace. It encourages bullies and emboldens demagogues, silences the voices of responsibility, and nourishes the lowest forms of partisan combat. It uses innocent citizens as pawns in the petty games of politicians and stains the reputations of good people. It routinely violates fundamental democratic principles, undermines the quality and consistency of public management, and breaches simple decency. In short, at a time when the quality of political leadership in government matters more than ever, the procedures for ensuring that quality are less reliable than ever. How did we get into this distressing condition? What is wrong with the current appointments process? And, most important, what can we do to fix it? Innocent Until Nominated brings together ten of the country¡¯s leading scholars of government and politics to explore recent changes in the presidential appointments process and their effects on the ability of contemporary presidents to recruit and retain talented leaders. Each chapter provides a special focus on a range of topics including presidential transitions, the obstacle course of Senate confirmation, the morass of forms and questionnaires, and the exasperating, exhausting, and humiliating experiences of recent appointees. For scholars, students, and potential presidential recruits, the book offers a candid and revealing look at the failures of the appointments process... and how it has become a serious impediment to effective leadership of the executive branch. Contributors include Sarah A. Binder (Brookings Institution and George Washington University), E. J. Dionne Jr. (Brookings Institution and Washington Post), George C. Edwards III (Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University), Stephen Hess (Brookings Institution), Judith M. Labiner (Brookings Institution), Paul C. Light (Brookings Institution), Burdett Loomis (Robert J. Dole Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at the University of Kansas), James P. Pfiffner (George Mason University), and Terry Sullivan (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy).

United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions

United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions PDF Author: Us Congress
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 230

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Book Description
The Plum Book is published by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Oversight and Reform alternately after each Presidential election. The Plum Book is used to identify Presidential appointed and other positions within the Federal Government. The publication lists over 9,000 Federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment. The duties of many such positions may involve advocacy of Administration policies and programs and the incumbents usually have a close and confidential working relationship with the agency head or other key officials. The Plum Book was first published in 1952 during the Eisenhower administration. When President Eisenhower took office, the Republican Party requested a list of government positions that President Eisenhower could fill. The next edition of the Plum Book appeared in 1960 and has since been published every four years, just after the Presidential election.

The In-and-outers

The In-and-outers PDF Author: G. Calvin Mackenzie
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description