Bureaucracy, << byu RAHK ruh see, >> is a system that carries out the functions of a government or a private organization. The authority to perform many routine duties is divided among departments called bureaus. In most large bureaucracies, power is controlled by a number of officials instead of by one leader. However, a single leader may be held responsible for the actions of many minor officials and employees. The term comes from the French word bureau, meaning office.
Bureaucracies occur most frequently in large, complex organizations that require many employees to provide a variety of specialized services. The federal government is the largest bureaucracy in the United States. It employs several million civilian men and women. Individual government agencies regulate activities in such fields as banking, business, farming, and social security.
Bureaucracies also may function in churches, corporations, schools, and other organizations. Max Weber, a German sociologist of the early 1900’s, considered bureaucracy the most important feature of modern society. He stated that all bureaucracies have common characteristics. For example, each has a leader who delegates authority to other officials, forming a chain of command. All bureaucracies also work in limited areas of jurisdiction and follow systematic, written procedures.
All modern industrial nations rely on bureaucracy. At best, a bureaucracy uses sound management techniques to improve efficiency. But people who deal with a large agency often feel frustrated by bureaucratic red tape (see Red tape ). Critics also argue that such a complex system fails to define the responsibilities of each department. This situation can result in wasted resources and a duplication of effort.
