the US system of government is corrupt at so many levels and in so many places

I work at the local level government level in the northeast where many local governments are modeled on the presidential system (strong mayor)

basically the bureaucracy waits to be told what to do by their political master the Mayor

rezonings are recommended by planning staff for approval if the mayor says so which recommendation is then forwarded to a mayor appointed  hearing officer who decides on the rezoning 

if you are a professional you are the administration's professional and are expected to parrot their view on everything despite if it is violates the ethics or normal practice of your profession

in fact there is a move to de-professionalize at every level of the bureaucracy where I am so the mayor and the councillors can manipulate the administration to their own political (and in many cases financial) advantage  

it is truly disgusting