American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

340 CHAPTER 11|THE BUREAUCRACY

people earn in similar, private sector positions, and salaries are increased some-

what for federal employees who work in areas with a high cost of living.

The civil service system also establishes tests that determine who is hired

for low-level clerical and secretarial positions. The people who receive the high-

est scores are hired as vacancies arise. A similar system applies for Postal Ser-

vice employees and for federal air traffi c controllers. Hiring for higher-level jobs

involves comparing the qualifi cations and experience of candidates who meet the

educational requirements for the position. Seniority, or the amount of time a per-

son has worked for the government or at a particular type of position, also deter-

mines which employees receive promotions.

Civil service regulations provide job security. After three years of satisfactory

performance, employees cannot be fi red except “for cause,” meaning that the fi ring

agency must cite a reason. Civil service regulations set out a multistep procedure

for fi ring someone, beginning with low performance evaluations, then warning

letters given to the employee, followed by a lengthy appeals process before a fi r-

ing takes place. In simple terms, it is very hard to fi re someone from the federal

bureaucracy as long as he or she shows up for work.^50 A subpar performer may be

assigned other duties, transferred to another offi ce, or even given nothing to do in

the hope that the person will leave voluntarily out of boredom.

Despite the diffi culties associated with fi ring an individual underperforming

bureaucrat, it is possible to reduce the size of the federal workforce through reduc-

tions in force (RIF), which occasionally occur when an entire offi ce or program

is terminated. Employees who have been laid off due to an RIF can apply for civil

service positions in other parts of government. Another strategy for reducing the

TYPES OF FEDERAL WORKERS

Occupation Employees

Percentage of Federal

Work Force

Management, business, and fi nancial jobs (e.g., purchasing agents,
accountants, tax collectors)

680,000 34%

Professional and related jobs (e.g., scientists, engineers, computer
specialists, lawyers, doctors, nurses)

670,000 33

Offi ce and administrative support jobs (e.g., secretaries,
record clerks)

273,000 14

Service jobs (e.g., jailers, police offi cers, detectives) 161,000 8

Installation, maintenance, and repair jobs (e.g., mechanics,
electricians)

101,000 5

Transportation and moving jobs (e.g., air traffi c controllers,
transportation inspectors)

61,000 3

Farming, fi shing, and forestry jobs (e.g., agricultural inspectors,
farmworkers, loggers)

8,000 0.4

Source: Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Career Guide to Industries, 2010–2011 Edition,” Table 3, available at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/
cgs041.htm (accessed 2/4/10).

NUTS & bolts

11.2