APGOVCH8 Flashcards
Federal bureaucracy
thousands of federal government agencies that implement and administer federal laws and programs.
The federal bureaucracy is called the fourth branch of the government.
Max Weber
German sociologist who articulated the hierarchical structure and functioning of bureaucracies in complex societies.
Max Weber helped define bureaucracy.
spoils system
firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party.
The spoils system came about during Jacksonian Democracy.
Patronage
jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support.
The spoils system was a form of patronage.
merit system
a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability.
The merit system replaced the spoils system.
Pendleton Act
Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis on open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.
The pendleton act is also known as the civil service reform act.
Civil Service System
The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.
The law covers only 10 percent of positions in the civil service system.
Sixteenth Amendment
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national income tax.
The SIXTEENTH aMENDMENT AFFECTED THE GROWTH OF THE GOVERNMENT.
World War 1
A global military conflict that took place 1914-1918.
The US got involved in World War 1 during 1917.
Great Depression
A severe global economic downturn marked by mass unemployment and poverty that began in the US in 1929.
The Great Depression ended in 1935.
World War 2
A global military conflict that took place from 1939-1945.
The US got involved in World War 2 during 1941.
G.I. Bill
Federal legislation enacted in 1944 that provided college loans for returning veterans and reduced mortgage rates to enable them to buy homes
My father is giving me his GI Bill.
Great Society
Reform program that was a broad attempt to combat poverty and discrimination.
Lynbon B Johnson creaTED THE gREAT sOCIETY
Department of Homeland Society
Cabinet department created to coordinate domestic security efforts.
The Department of Homeland Society was created after the 9/11 attacks.
Cabinet departments
Major administrative units with responsibility for a board area of government operations.
There are 15 different Cabinet departments.
independent executive agencies
governmental units that closely resemble a cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions.
iNDEPENDENT executive agencies exist apart from cabinet departments.
Independent regulatory commission
AN ENTITY BY cONGRESS OUTSIDE A MAJOR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT that regulates a specified interest or economic activity.
Independent regulatory commissions also exist outside of major departments.
government corporations
businesses that established by congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide.
Government corporations date as early as 1930.
Hatch Act
the 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns.
The hatch act is also known as the political activities act.
implementation
process by which a law is put into operation
how agencies execute congressional wishes is by implementation.
iron triangles
the relationship and pattern of interaction that occur among agencies.
Political scientists have investigated iron triangles.
issue networks
informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas.
Issue networks affect bureaucracies.
interagency councils
working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of governmental agencies.
Interagency councils are alliances within bureaucracies.
policy coordinating committee
committees created at sub-cabinet level to facilitate interactions between agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems.
Presidential administrations have set up policy coordinating committee.
administrative discretion
ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions
Administrative discretion gives decision makers tremendous amount of leeway.
rule making
legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislature act
Rule making is the most important function of government
Regulations
rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law
Rule making results in regulations
Federal Register
The official journal of the US government, including all federal rules and public notices so that citizens can follow proposed changes and comply with rule changes
Rule making proceedings must be published in Federal Register
Administrative Adjudication
process in which a bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties similar to the way courts settle disputes
Administrative adjudication forces compliance.
