medium · GMAT Verbal

Passage: The debate over bureaucratic autonomy involves the degree to which non-elected officials in government agencies should exercise independent judgment. In modern states, legislatures often delegate broad authority to agencies to create specific regulations, as agencies possess technical expertise that lawmakers lack. Proponents of autonomy argue that this expertise leads to more efficient and evidence-based policy, insulating important decisions from short-term political pressures. However, this delegation raises the 'democratic deficit' concern. Critics argue that when powerful decisions are made by unelected bureaucrats, the link between the will of the people and government action is severed. They contend that agencies often fall victim to 'regulatory capture,' where they are influenced by the very industries they are meant to oversee. To mitigate this, many systems implement mechanisms of oversight, such as legislative vetoes and judicial review of agency actions. The challenge lies in balancing the need for specialized knowledge with the requirement for democratic accountability. The passage suggests that 'regulatory capture' is a risk because:

1. Agencies may become overly influenced by the entities they are tasked with governing.
2. Judicial review is often insufficient to prevent bureaucrats from exercising independent judgment.
3. Lawmakers are too focused on short-term political pressures to oversee agencies properly.
4. Non-elected officials lack the constitutional authority to regulate private industry.
5. Specialized expertise is inherently incompatible with the principles of democratic accountability.

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