APGovCH.8 Flashcards
federal bureaucracy
The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs.
Max Weber
German sociologist active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who articulate and hierarchical structure and near-mechanical functioning of bureaucracies in complex societies.
spoils system
The firing of public-office holders of defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party.
patronage
Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support.
merit system
A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty.
Pendleton Act
Reform measure that establishes the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.
civil service system
The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.
Sixteenth Amendment
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national tax income.
World War I
A Global military conflict that took place from 1914-1918 across Europe and its overseas territories. The United States military intervened from 1917-1918.
Great Depression
A severe global economic downturn marked by mass unemployment and poverty that began in the United States in 1929 and persisted to some degree until the end of the 1930’s.
World War II
A global military conflict that took place from 1939-1945 in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the pacific Region. The united States was formally involved in the war from 1941-1945.
G.I. (Government Issue) Bill
Federal legislation enacted the 1944 that provided college loans for returning veterans and reduced mortgage rates to enable them to buy homes.
Great Society
Reform program begun in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson that was a broad attempt to combat poverty and discrimination through urban renewal, education, and unemployment relief.
Department of Homeland Security
Cabinet department created after the September 11 2001, terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts.
Cabinet departments
Major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicted a permanent national interest in a particular government function, such as defense, commerce, or agriculture.
independent executive agencies
Government units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas or responsibility
and preform services rather than regulatory functions.
independent regulatory commissions
An entity created by Congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specific interested or economic activity.
government corporations
Business established by Congress to preform functions that private businesses could provide, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak. Often established when the financial incentives for private industry to provide services are minimal.
Hatch Act
The 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns. This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions, working for a particular party, or campaigning for a particular candidate.
implementation
The process by which a law or policy is put into operation.
iron triangles
The relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees.
issue networks
The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas.
interagency councils
working groups created to facilitate coordinate of policy making and implementing across a host of government agencies.
policy coordinate committees (PCCs)
Committees created at the sun-Cabinet level to facilitate interactions between agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems.
administrative discretion
The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement Congressional or executive intentions.
rule making
A quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of legislative act.
regulations
Rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law.
Federal Register
The official journal of the U.S. government, including all federal rules and public notices so that citizens and organization can follow proposed changes and comply with rule changes.
administrative adjudication
A quasi-judicial process in which a bureaucracy agency settles disputes between two parties similar to the way courts resolve disputes
Government corporations
Business established by Congress to preform functions that private businesses could provide, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak. Often established when the financial incentives for private industry to provide services are minimal.
