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Essay / Weber's Bureaucracy and the Bureaucracy that Exists in American Society
Max Weber, one of the most influential sociologists in the world, was revolutionary in his thinking, and his interpretation of sociological concepts is still studied today . Max Weber proposed a number of theories to the sociological world, one of the best known being his assessment of bureaucracy. While many other governments have bureaucracies, it is very useful to examine the American institution of government when we evaluate Weber's perception of bureaucracy. Max Weber proposed that bureaucracy is an organization that can only exist in the modern state and the most advanced institutions of capitalism. Bureaucracy, according to him, is a system in which the government or a business can manage and carry out its tasks in the most efficient manner possible. The federal bureaucracy, such as that which exists in the United States, is a type of highly structured and formalized government organization. Cabinet departments are a prime example of how bureaucracy works within the U.S. government, and these departments are primarily controlled by the president and Congress. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayWeber first explained how officials in a bureaucracy are selected based on their skills, as opposed to their relationship with a politician. Essentially, this means that hiring is based on merit, just like promotions. In the past, American presidents often participated in the spoils system, meaning that after winning an election, the president would give government jobs to his supporters, friends, or family members. This was very problematic because many unqualified people became members of the government and were tasked with making difficult decisions that would impact the entire country. In an effort to end this, potential civil servants were chosen based on the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which required passing an exam to qualify, rather than simply having a relationship with the politician. Coming back to Weber's idea, he believes that this is very important to conduct a fair and orderly government operation. These officials were not elected by the public, but appointed on the basis of technical qualifications. In the American bureaucracy, chiefs of staff are appointed by the president. Weber emphasizes that civil servants should be appointed to their positions based on their skills. The bureaucracy is organized to accommodate the skills of individuals and places individuals in positions where their talents are used. When it comes to the U.S. cabinet, the Department of Defense, for example, should be led by someone with national security experience for that department to thrive. You wouldn't appoint someone with more general skills to a role that requires specific expertise. Another important facet of Weber's understanding of bureaucracy is the idea that all government employees should maintain impersonal relationships with one another. Since bureaucracy is a form of legal and rational authority, its members must make decisions based on a rational rather than a personal basis. Rational, legal authority is one of Weber's three ideal types of political leadership, and it is the one that exists in most modern and Western societies. Weber recognized that a public servant's conduct and achievements at work would be.