Reorganizing the Executive Branch in the 20th Century: Landmark Commissions (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (109 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
June 10, 2002 |
| Report Number |
RL31446 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Ronald C. Moe, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report studies the work and results of a number of 20th century commissions and other
similar
bodies that have had executive organization and reorganization as central to their mandate. For
purposes of this report, these reorganization exercises are referred to as "landmark commissions."
Context for discussion of landmark commissions is provided by a review and analysis of six
crucial historical periods, such as the Progressive Era, in the evolution of the executive branch. The
selected landmark commissions, beginning with the Keep Commission in 1905 and concluding with
the National Performance Review (1993-2000) are described and analyzed in chronological order.
Each commission and its work is founded on philosophical principles of management, some
of which are made explicit while others have to be interpreted from texts and actions. The prevailing
consensus on organizational management principles changed considerably during the course of the
20th century and these changing principles and assumptions are analyzed.
Highlighted is the current debate over which set of principles should form the basis for future
organizational design and management in the executive branch. The debate, in its essence, is
between those believing that the governmental and private sectors are distinctive in their
characteristics, based on legal theory, and ought to kept separate ("constitutionalists"), and those who
believe that the governmental and private sectors are essentially alike and ought to be organized and
managed according to generic principles with an economic foundation ("entrepreneurs").
The report concludes with a discussion of the future, if any, for the landmark commission
approach to organizational management in the executive branch.
