Which term describes the bureaucracy described as apolitical, hierarchical, and governed by formal procedures?

• A. Weberian Model
• B. Administrative State
• C. Red Tape Bureaucracy
• D. Market-based Administration

Answer: (A)

The idea here is an ideal-type bureaucracy that operates in a neutral, rule-guided way with a clear chain of command. In Weberian theory, bureaucracy is organized as a rational-legal system: a defined hierarchy, specialized roles, offices filled by merit, impersonal decision-making, and decisions driven by formal written rules and standard procedures. This combination creates an apolitical, orderly structure where authority flows through the hierarchy and actions are governed by established rules, making it the best fit for the description.

The other terms describe different concerns: the administrative state emphasizes bureaucrats shaping policy and regulatory power, often with political implications; red tape bureaucracy highlights excessive rules and inefficiency rather than a clean, rule-bound hierarchy; market-based administration relies on market-like mechanisms and privatization rather than a strictly formal, hierarchical, rule-governed setup.