From “What” to “How”
- Module 3-1: We learned what government
does (services, regulation, redistribution)
- Module 3-2: Now we explore how
government actually gets things done
Key Question: How do 90,000+ governments
coordinate to provide services, enforce laws, and maintain order?
The Federal System:
Division of Labor
Constitutional Framework
- Federal Government: Powers explicitly granted
(national defense, interstate commerce, currency)
- State Governments: Powers not denied or given to
federal (police powers, education, elections)
- Local Governments: Powers delegated by states
(zoning, local police, fire services)
Reality: These boundaries blur constantly in
practice
Criminal Justice:
Federalism in Action
How the System
Divides Responsibilities
Federal:
- Terrorism, organized crime, interstate crimes
- Immigration enforcement, federal drug crimes
- Constitutional standards (Miranda, due process)
State:
- Most criminal law and procedure
- State police, prisons, courts
- Professional standards and training
Local:
- Day-to-day policing and prosecution
- Local jails, municipal courts
- Community-specific public safety needs
Government
Agencies: The Organizational Structure
How Government Organizes
Itself
Departments: Large, broad-mission
organizations
- Example: Department of Justice, State Department of
Corrections
Agencies: More specialized within departments
- Example: FBI within DOJ, Parole Board within DOC
Independent Agencies: Outside traditional
departments
- Example: Federal Trade Commission, state licensing
boards
Question: Why organize this way instead of one big
agency?
The Role of Public
Administration
Where Politics
Ends and Administration Begins?
Traditional View: Politicians make policy,
administrators implement it Reality: Administrators
influence policy through:
- Expertise: Technical knowledge politicians don’t
have
- Implementation decisions: How policies get
carried out
- Feedback: Information about what works and what
doesn’t
- Rule-making: Filling in details of broad
legislation
Example: Congress passes a crime bill, but
agencies write the specific regulations
Policy Making: The Real
Process
From Idea to Implementation
1. Agenda Setting: How issues get attention
- Example: High-profile crime cases → policy attention
2. Policy Formulation: Developing solutions
- Example: Task forces studying police reform options
3. Policy Adoption: Official decision-making
- Example: City council votes on new policing policies
4. Policy Implementation: Making it happen
- Example: Training officers, changing procedures
5. Policy Evaluation: Assessing results
- Example: Measuring crime reduction, community
satisfaction
Implementation:
Where Policies Meet Reality
Why Good Policies Sometimes
Fail
😕 Resource Constraints: Not enough money, staff,
or time
🤝 Coordination Problems: Multiple agencies, unclear
responsibilities
🙅 Resistance to Change: Existing culture,
procedures, interests
🛠️ Technical Challenges: Complex problems, limited
knowledge
⚖️ Political Opposition: Continued disagreement about
goals
Case Study: Body-worn camera policies - simple
idea, complex implementation
Fiscal Management:
Following the Money
How Government Budgeting
Works
- Budget Preparation: Agencies request, executives
propose
- Budget Adoption: Legislatures review, modify,
approve
- Budget Execution: Agencies spend according to
plan
- Budget Monitoring: Ongoing oversight and
adjustment
Criminal Justice Reality: Competition for limited
public safety dollars between police, courts, corrections,
prevention
Budgeting Challenges
Why Government
Budgeting is Different
⚖️ Multiple Goals: Efficiency + equity + political
feasibility
👀 Public Scrutiny: Every decision is potentially
controversial
📆 Long-term Commitments: Pensions, infrastructure,
debt service
📉 Economic Constraints: Revenue depends on economic
conditions
🗳️ Political Constraints: Electoral pressures,
interest group demands
Example: Deciding between hiring more police
officers vs. funding drug treatment programs
Regulatory
Functions: Making and Enforcing Rules
How Regulations Happen
📝 Legislative Authorization: Congress/legislature
grants rule-making power
🛠️ Proposed Rules: Agencies draft specific
regulations
💬 Public Comment: Stakeholders provide input
✅ Final Rules: Agencies issue binding
regulations
👮 Enforcement: Agencies monitor compliance and
impose penalties
Criminal Justice Example: Police use-of-force
policies - from law to department regulation to officer training
Public Service Delivery
Models
Different Ways to Provide
Services
Direct Government Provision: Government employees
deliver services
- Example: Municipal police department
Contracting Out: Private companies deliver
government-funded services
- Example: Private prisons, contracted security
Grants and Partnerships: Government funds others
to provide services
- Example: Nonprofit victim services, community policing
partnerships
Regulation: Government sets standards, others
provide services
- Example: Private security licensing, court-appointed
attorneys
Government Contracting:
The Process
How Government Buys
Goods and Services
📝 Planning: Identify needs, develop
specifications
📢 Solicitation: Advertise opportunities, receive
proposals
🔍 Evaluation: Compare proposals using stated
criteria
🏆 Award: Select contractor and negotiate
contract
📋 Management: Monitor performance and payments
🔄 Review: Assess results to inform future
contracting decisions
Key Principles: Competition, transparency,
accountability
Contracting Challenges
When Contracting Goes Wrong
Common Problems:
- Unclear specifications lead to disputes
- Lowest bidder isn’t always best performer
- Monitoring costs can exceed savings
- Political pressure influences decisions
- Loss of institutional knowledge
Criminal Justice Example: Private prison contracts
- cost savings vs. quality concerns
Government Grants:
Encouraging Action
How Grant Programs Work
Formula Grants: Distributed by predetermined
criteria
- Example: Community Development Block Grants based on
population, poverty
Competitive Grants: Awarded based on proposal
quality
- Example: COPS grants for innovative policing
programs
Block Grants: Broad purposes, local discretion
- Example: Justice Assistance Grants for various criminal
justice improvements
Categorical Grants: Specific purposes, detailed
requirements
- Example: VAWA grants for domestic violence programs
Intergovernmental
Relations: Making Federalism Work
Coordination Mechanisms
Formal Coordination:
- Intergovernmental task forces
- Regional councils and authorities
- Interstate compacts and agreements
Informal Coordination:
- Professional networks and associations
- Information sharing systems
- Joint training and conferences
Financial Coordination:
- Federal grants to states and localities
- State aid to local governments
- Shared revenue programs
IGR in Criminal Justice
Real-World Coordination
Examples
Multi-Jurisdictional Task Forces:
- FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces
- Drug Enforcement Task Forces
- Gang suppression collaboratives
Information Sharing:
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
- State criminal history databases
- Intelligence fusion centers
Standards and Training:
- POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) councils
- Federal training programs for local officers
- Certification and accreditation programs
Common Challenges
in Government Functioning
Why Government Sometimes
Struggles
🧩 Complexity: Multiple levels, agencies,
stakeholders
💸 Resources: Never enough money, time, or
staff
⚖️ Politics: Electoral pressures, partisan
disagreement
🔍 Accountability: Balancing oversight with
efficiency
🔄 Change: Adapting to new problems and
technologies
🌟 Expectations: Public demands for perfect
performance
Reality Check: Private organizations face many of
these same challenges
Strategies for
Better Government Functioning
Clear Goals and Metrics:** Know what success looks like
Adequate Resources: Match funding to expectations
Effective Leadership: Skilled managers at all levels
Good Information Systems: Data for decision-making
Stakeholder Engagement: Include those affected by
decisions Continuous Learning: Adapt based on
experience
Your Role: Future public administrators who can
implement these strategies
Technology and Government
Functions
How Digital
Government Changes Everything
Service Delivery:
- Online applications and renewals
- Digital case management systems
- Virtual court proceedings
Transparency:
- Open data initiatives
- Real-time budget tracking
- Body cameras and public records
Efficiency:
- Automated processing systems
- Shared databases across agencies
- Predictive analytics for resource allocation
The Future of Government
Functioning
Emerging Trends and
Challenges
Network Governance: Government as coordinator
rather than direct provider Data-Driven Decision
Making: Using analytics to improve performance
Citizen Engagement: Technology-enabled participation
Agile Government: Rapid adaptation to changing needs
Equity and Inclusion: Ensuring services reach all
communities
Question: How might these trends affect criminal
justice agencies?
Case Study: COVID-19
Response
Government Functioning
Under Pressure
Coordination Challenges:
- Federal, state, local health authorities
- Multiple agencies within each level
- Public health vs. economic priorities
- Changing science and guidance
Criminal Justice Impacts:
- Jail population management
- Court operations and backlogs
- Police enforcement of health orders
- Technology adoption acceleration
Lessons: Complex problems require coordinated
responses
Module 3-2 Summary
Key Takeaways:
- Government functioning requires coordination across multiple
levels and agencies
- Implementation is where policies succeed or fail
- Budgeting, regulation, and service delivery involve complex
processes
- Intergovernmental coordination is essential but challenging
- Technology is transforming how government functions
- Public administrators play crucial roles in making the system
work
Next: Examining organizational theory and how
public agencies are structured and managed