THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD, THE POLICYMAKING BODY OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, RECENTLY CONCLUDED THAT AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS SLIPPING. A SURVEY OF RESEARCH DIRECTORS AIMED AT DETERMINING REASONS FOR THIS DECLINE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE CAUSES IS BELIEVED TO BE INCREASED BUREAUCRATIC RESTRAINTS WHICH HINDER THE SCIENTIST IN CHOOSING AND PURSUING HIS OWN LINES OF RESEARCH. THESE BUREAUCRATIC RESTRAINTS ALSO EXIST IN THE AREA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHERE LEGISLATURES INCREASINGLY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BIND EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL PERSONNEL IN THEIR DECISIONMAKING, IN AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE WHAT ARE JUDGED TO BE ABUSES IN THE ARREST, PROSECUTION, AND SENTENCING OF OFFENDERS. FOUR FACTORS UNDERLIE THIS BUREAUCRATIZATION BOTH IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: (1) THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF SOCIOECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND RELATIONSHIPS, BELIEVED TO REQUIRE CENTRALIZED REGULATION TO PROVIDE RATIONAL UNIFORMITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD; (2) EMPHASIS UPON CONTROLLING THE ACTIVITY OF THE RICH AND POWERFUL TO ASSURE THAT THE WEAK AND THE POOR ARE NOT EXPLOITED; (3) THE BELIEF THAT INCREASED USE OF GOVERNMENT MONEY IN PRIVATE ENTERPRISES REQUIRES CLOSE GOVERNMENT MONITORING TO ASSURE THAT GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVES ARE OBTAINED; AND (4) FEAR OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY OCCUR FROM ALLOWING TOO MUCH FREEDOM OF ACTION IN AREAS AFFECTING PUBLIC ORDER AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRESS. WHILE THE VAGARIES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE COMPLEXITITES OF INCREASING AND MAINTAINING A RATIONAL SOCIOECONOMIC ORDER DO REQUIRE SOME CENTRALIZED BUREAUCRATIC CONTROL, IT IS BELIEVED THIS CAN BE DONE BEST BY TAKING THE PROFIT OUT OF INCOMPETENCE AND DISHONESTY. THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE PROVIDES SUCH AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT ELIMINATES ANY ADVANTAGE THAT MIGHT BE GAINED FROM ABUSIVE POLICE BEHAVIOR. SIMILARLY, IN SCIENCE, PEER REVIEW EXPOSES INCOMPETENT RESEARCH. THIS APPROACH PROVIDES FREEDOM TO CONDUCT BASIC RESEARCH WITHOUT UNDUE RESTRAINT, WITH THE AWARENESS THAT POOR QUALITY WORK EVENTUALLY WILL PROVE TO BE UNPROFITABLE TO THE RESEARCHER. (RCB)