| Abstract: | Empirical analysis has lagged behind theoretical advancementin the study of legislative delegation of power to bureaucracies.This article analyzes why state legislatures delegated advisoryand policy-forming powers to bureaucracies for the Aid to Familieswith Dependent Children (AFDC) program from 1935 through 1996.The analysis supports various theories of bureaucratic discretion,while painting a complex political picture of delegation decisions.Legislators rely on bureaucrats to resolve uncertainty, especiallywhen internal legislative information is scarce. Contrary torecent wisdom, however, delegation is not found to be associatedwith the general condition of unified government. Rather, delegationoccurs under both divided and unified government, but the procedureschosen and appointment powers granted vary under these two conditions. |
