Final answer:
An ombudsman investigates complaints against government departments, local authorities, and sometimes commercial organizations. Their role and scope vary, often including oversight of public entities and international organizations. Reforms, such as the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, assist in bureaucratic accountability.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ombudsman is an official appointed to investigate individuals' complaints against maladministration, especially that of public authorities. The scope of an ombudsman's role can vary by country and by the specific mandate of the office. They traditionally investigate complaints about government departments, local authorities, and sometimes even commercial organizations.
The functions of an ombudsman can include investigating complaints about various entities. These may involve entities such as the Red Cross and Amnesty International, organizations like the World Health Organization and the World Bank, as well as international bodies like the International Criminal Court and the African Union. However, each ombudsman's office has a specific jurisdiction and may not cover all these entities.
Bureaucratic oversight is another critical function related to ombudsmen, where internal watchdogs may report on misconduct within a bureaucracy. Although bureaucracies can resist criticism, reforms like the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 have aimed to maintain integrity in public service by establishing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) for oversight and accountability.