2022-23 Vocab A-Z Unit 2C Flashcards
Appropriations
The process through which congressional committees allocate funds to executive branch agencies, bureaus, and departments.
Bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
Bureaucratic adjudication
When the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program.
Civil service
the permanent professional branches of a government’s administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians.
Deregulation
getting rid of regulations.
Discretionary authority
the ability of a bureaucracy to choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advances by laws
Executive orders
Policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval.
Executive agencies
The term “executive agency” means an executive department or independent establishment in the executive branch of the Federal Government, including a wholly owned Government corporation.
Independent regulatory agency
Organization that exists outside of the major cabinet departments and whose job is to monitor and regulate specific sectors of the economy.
Iron triangle
coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.
Legislative veto
The rejection of a presidential or administrative action by a vote of one or both houses of Congress without the consent of the president.
Merit system
a system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections.
Patronage (spoils system)
getting things because you know them or because they’re a friend.
Pendleton Act
a system of hiring and promotion based on merit.
Policy implementation
a series of activities undertaken by government and others to achieve the goals and objectives articulated in policy statements
Political appointments
top- level senior positions: Cabinet secretaries, agency heads, deputy secretaries, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. Appointed by the president.
Privatization
the transfer of a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.
Red tape
complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done.
Regulation
the process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that have the force of law, to carry out the laws passed by Congress.
What does the EPA deal with?
Pollution and things related
What does the FTC deal with?
Puts people in jail for trading
What does the FCC deal with?
censoring on TV and things like the radio
What does the FAA do?
regulates every flight
What are 2 agencies that report to the president?
CIA and FBI
Does the NSA report to the president?
No
What does the NIH deal with?
Curing cancer
How hard is it to fire someone from the bureau?
Very hard
What’s a big problem in the bureaucracy?
federal workers are more focused on the benefits of the job instead of doing good job.
Hidden workforces are…
private contractors
Did Paul Light believe that every department was bad at their job?
No. An example of one that is good is social security.
What is the speed of moving federal employees to the bureau?
Slow
Some problems stated in James Q Wilsons excerpt are…
- Accountability and getting the best results
- Fiscal integrity
- Efficiency
Are we profitable as a government?
No
What is the best way to decide if an agency is inefficient?
Weigh relative costs and benefits
What did Wilson believe?
Efficient bureaucracy would rob us of our liberties.
Block Grant
free money
Categorized Grant
string attached to money. Example is school funds are always categorized.
How is the Iron Triangle formed?
Congress is at the top and bureaucracy and interest groups are the other points
Interest groups can also be called what?
lobbyists. They want people to fund things.
Why is it called an iron triangle?
Because money flows throughout the points
How is the relationship between political appointees and the bureaucracy?
Bad
What are examples of bureaucratic sabotage?
quiet quitting, not starting work until they want to, keeping info hidden, hostile, asking interest groups to help.
If you see something illegal or dangerous and report it you are protected by what?
The Whistleblower Act
How do civil servants who are career employees feel?
ignored and feel they should be respected by politicians.
How does Robert try to get money in his excerpt?
cutting time of unemployment
Quasae means what?
sort of
What does the 27th amendment say?
The president cannot get a pay raise until their next term
What makes American bureaucracy distinctive?
We have a structure that we try to layer to help the president. However, it has a lot of red tape and redundancy because of it.
What control does congress have over the bureaucracy?
budget and oversight
What concerns does the president have when deciding whom to appoint?
Qualifications (background checks, etc)
How does the manner in which officials are recruited and rewarded explain their behavior?
You get recruited by taking the merit test
Bureaucracy has the power of discretion, meaning what?
To stop or try to stop something
What were the first cabinet departments Washington started with?
treasury, state, war, justice
What are parts of the iron triangle?
Congress, the Bureaucracy, and interest groups/lobbyists
What got rid of political patronage and did things based off of merit?
The Pendleton Act
Some regulatory agencies are…
The FA, EPA, and the food and drug administration
What is a big problem faced in Paul Light’s excerpt?
Criticism of federal employees
How was the ice rink finally made?
There were no standards or red tape
How do cabinet departments differ from regulatory agencies?
Cabinets get money from congress, whereas agencies get money from other means (they don’t report to anyone)
What is oversight?
Overviewing things to assure they are proper
What does Heclo say about the relationship between the Bureaucracy and political appointees?
He says it is hostile because they are different goals.
