Author Question: Karen, a citizen of Texas, is a member of the Public Utility Commission. Describe her primary ... (Read 31 times)

mrsjacobs44 · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

Karen, a citizen of Texas, is a member of the Public Utility Commission. Describe her primary responsibilities.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why do most citizens associate bureaucracy with red tape and inefficiency?

What will be an ideal response?

Sierray · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer:
A. Public Utility Commission responsibilities
1. set utility rates
a. commission holds public hearings on utility companies' proposed increases before setting rates
2. authority over privately owned utility companies but not city government operations
3. regulate electric and phone companies
4. meetings on policy matters
5. commission does not get much attention
6. regulatory power over the utility industry makes it one of the more significant boards in the state

Answer to Question 2

Answer:
A. Bureaucracy seen by citizens as inefficient
1. believe bureaucrats are lazy and power hungry
2. almost all citizens have had a bad experience with government
3. citizens only notice the bad things that happen
B. Bureaucracy is a huge employer
1. over 150,000 people are employed
2. constrained by rules and regulations that are supposed to ensure efficiency but employees doing the best job possible
C. Bureaucracy is a hierarchal system
1. pyramid structure with a chain of command
2. makes for a lot of red tape to go through
3. report to their direct supervisor
4. limited span of control for each supervisor
D. Bureaucracy intended to create experts and instill efficiency
1. idealized version of government
2. reality is that waste and mismanagement occur
3. citizens more involved because it is our tax dollars involved
E. Citizens remember that government jobs used to be given through the spoils system
1. in the past jobs went to winning political party
2. trend has moved more toward merit system to hire best person for the job with the right skills and qualifications
3. still have controversy with affirmative action
F. Limited accountability
1. bureaucracy does not answer to governor and he has no direct control