The Bureaucrat Kings

The Origins and Underpinnings of America's Bureaucratic State

Paul D. Moreno

• Publisher: Praeger
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781440839665
• eBook ISBN: 9781440839672
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: American Government
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Provocative in nature, this work looks critically at the bureaucratic infrastructure behind the U.S. federal government, from its origins as a self-governing republic in the 18th century to its modern presence as a centralized institution. This fascinating critique analyzes the inner workings of the American government, suggesting that our federal system works not as a byproduct of the U.S. Constitution but rather as the result of liberal and progressive politics. Distinguished academic and political analyst Paul D. Moreno asserts that errant political movements have found "loopholes" in the U.S. Constitution, allowing for federal bureaucracy—a state he feels is a misinterpretation of America's founding dogma. He contends that constitutionalism and bureaucracy are innately incompatible… with the former suffering to accommodate the latter. According to Moreno, the leadership of the United States strayed from the democratic principles of the early founders and grew to what it is today—a myriad of bureaucratic red tape couched in unreasonable policies. A straightforward, chronological narrative explains how non-elected bureaucrats became powerful political mavens in America. Each chapter covers several decades and features events spanning from the early history of the United States through coverage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) of 2010.

Table of contents

• Cover page
• Halftitle page
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface: The New Ruling Class
• CHAPTER 1 The Roots of the Founders’ Constitution
• CHAPTER 2 A Limited State: The American Government’s First Century
• CHAPTER 3 The First Steps toward a Bureaucratic State, 1865–1899
• CHAPTER 4 The First Wave of the Administrative State: The Progressive Era, 1900–1930
• CHAPTER 5 The Second Wave: The New Deal Era, 1930–1945
• CHAPTER 6 The Third Wave: The Great Society and the New Social Regulation, 1945–1975
• CHAPTER 7 The Fourth Wave: From Partial Deregulation to Reregulation, 1975–2010
• CONCLUSION The Way Out
• Notes
• Select Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author