How Government Functions

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

How to Improve Performance

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