Bureaucracy

Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks in the text with the words and phrases in the box.

abuse of power expansion inaccessibility ineffective

inflexibility inquiring maladministration officials
reluctance remoteness responsibility self-importance

An inevitable consequence of the (1)………………….. of governmental functions has been the rise
of bureaucracy. The number of (2)………………….. of all kinds has greatly increased, and so too have
the material resources allocated to their activities, while their powers have been enlarged in scope and
depth. The rise of bureaucracy has occurred in countries ruled by all types of government, including
communist countries, dictatorships and fascist regimes, and political democracies. It is as conspicuous in
the former colonial states of Africa and Asia as among the highly developed countries of Western Europe
or North America. A large, strong, and well-trained civil service is essential in a modern state,
irrespective of the political character of its regime or the nature of its economy.

Fear of the maladies that tend to afflict bureaucracy has produced a considerable volume of protest in
some countries; and, even in those where opposition to the government or the party in power is not
permitted, criticism and exposure of bureaucratic (3)………………….. are generally encouraged.

Bureaucratic maladies are of different kinds. They include an overdevotion of officials to  precedent, (4)
……………………. from the rest of the community, (5) ……………………., arrogance in dealing with
the general public, (6) …………………… organization, waste of labour, procrastination, an excessive
sense of (7)………………….., indifference to the feelings or convenience of citizens, an obsession with
the binding authority of departmental decisions, (8)……………………, (9)………………….., and (10)
………………….. to admit error. Many of these defects can be prevented or cured by the application of
good management techniques and by the careful training of personnel. A whole range of techniques is
available for this purpose, including effective public relations, work-study programs, organization and
management, operational research, and social surveys.

Administrative law is valuable in controlling the bureaucracy. Under liberal-democratic systems of

government, political and judicial control of administration are regarded as complementary, but distinct.
The former is concerned with questions of policy and the (11)………………….. of the executive for
administration and expenditure. The latter is concerned with (12)…………………. into particular cases
of complaint. Administrative law does not include the control of policy by ministers or the head of state.

Exercise 2. Look up in the text for the English equivalents of the following phrases:

1. anchetă socială ……………………….……… 5. critică și demascare

2. apariția birocrației …………………………… …………………………..
3. confortul cetățeanunlui ……………………… 6. organizare ineficientă ………………………..
4. control judiciar ...……………………………. 7. a-și recunoaște greșelile ……………………..
8. serviciu public ………………………………

Exercise 3. Make pairs of antonyms with the following words, then enter them in the table below, giving
related forms (if any):

accelerate devotion inaccessibility neglect

accessibility effective indifference procrastination
anticipation enthusiasm ineffective reluctance
arrogance expansion interest remote
contraction forthcoming irresponsibility responsibility
delay hoarding modesty waste

accelerate delay

Exercise 4. Use the “health metaphors” in the box to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. Make the
necessary changes.

acute afflict ailing clean bill of health cure

heal ill malady prevention sore point

1. Red-tapeism, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, 6. Properly developed, local government can be

and the abuse of citizens are all bureaucratic an enormous asset in helping to regenerate our
…………………… . …………………….. economy.

2. Education is the chief remedy for all those 7. The emptying of the rural regions is still a
great evils which …………………. our society. ………………….., but a quarter of a century
ago the situation was …………………….. .
3. For the next sixty years an urgent question
was the ……………….. of floods in the capital. 8. Water quality has been monitored and given a
completely ……………………….. .
4. New policies have been promoted in order to
……………….. social and economic ills. 9. The prime minister's speech will attempt to
…………………. divisions within his party.
5. He worked to promote programs to cure
America’s social and economic ….
………………….. .

Exercise 5. Fill in the blanks in the following short text on maladministration with the corresponding
English words and phrases.
 amânare Avocatul Poporului derutant a furniza
nedreptate organism guvernamental promisiuni nerespectate a respecta

Maladministration is the actions of a (1) …………………. which can be seen as causing an (2)
……………………. . The law in the United Kingdom says (3…………………… must investigate
maladministration. The definition of maladministration is wide and can include:

 (4) ……………………;  failure to investigate;

 incorrect action or failure to take any  failure to reply;
action;  (7) ……………………… or inaccurate
 failure to (5) …………………. statements;
procedures or the law;  inadequate liaison;
 failure to (6)  inadequate consultation;
………………….information;  (8) ……………………… .
 inadequate record-keeping;

Exercise 6. Talking points and essay topics

What are the consequences of bureaucracy?
What is maladministration?