APGovCH.8

Question 1

federal bureaucracy

Answer 1

The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs.

Question 2

Max Weber

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

spoils system

Answer 3

The firing of public-office holders of defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party.

Question 4

patronage

Answer 4

Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support.

Question 5

merit system

Answer 5

A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty.

Question 6

Pendleton Act

Answer 6

Reform measure that establishes the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.

Question 7

civil service system

Answer 7

The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.

Question 8

Sixteenth Amendment

Answer 8

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national tax income.

Question 9

World War I

Answer 9

A Global military conflict that took place from 1914-1918 across Europe and its overseas territories. The United States military intervened from 1917-1918.

Question 10

Great Depression

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

World War II

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

G.I. (Government Issue) Bill

Answer 12

Federal legislation enacted the 1944 that provided college loans for returning veterans and reduced mortgage rates to enable them to buy homes.

Question 13

Great Society

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Department of Homeland Security

Answer 14

Cabinet department created after the September 11 2001, terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts.

Question 15

Cabinet departments

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

independent executive agencies

Answer 16

Government units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas or responsibility
and preform services rather than regulatory functions.

Question 17

independent regulatory commissions

Answer 17

An entity created by Congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specific interested or economic activity.

Question 18

government corporations

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Hatch Act

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

implementation

Answer 20

The process by which a law or policy is put into operation.

Question 21

iron triangles

Answer 21

The relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees.

Question 22

issue networks

Answer 22

The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas.

Question 23

interagency councils

Answer 23

working groups created to facilitate coordinate of policy making and implementing across a host of government agencies.

Question 24

policy coordinate committees (PCCs)

Answer 24

Committees created at the sun-Cabinet level to facilitate interactions between agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems.

Question 25

administrative discretion

Answer 25

The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement Congressional or executive intentions.

Question 26

rule making

Answer 26

A quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of legislative act.

Question 27

regulations

Answer 27

Rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law.

Question 28

Federal Register

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

administrative adjudication

Answer 29

A quasi-judicial process in which a bureaucracy agency settles disputes between two parties similar to the way courts resolve disputes

Question 30

Government corporations

Answer 30

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.