Jack-booted, pointy-headed, petty, arbitrary, lazy, unaccountable...Certainly we have more than enough negative adjectives for the bureaucracy. But are they really that bad? Whether bad or good, virtually all that government does in modern democracies is done by bureaucracies. The administrative branch of government is a powerful institution that both makes and implements public policy. This class will consider several important questions concerning bureaucracy and democracy, including: What are the sources of power for the bureaucracy? In what ways and to what extent is that power limited, and by whom? How does the bureaucracy make and implement public policy? And to whom and to what extent is the bureaucracy accountable for its actions? Format: discussion/lecture. Requirements: 4 or 5 short papers with revisions possible, one long paper with revisions required. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 18). This course is writing intensive. American Politics Subfield