Bureaucracy Flashcards
The process by which agencies resolve disputes over the implementation of their administrative rules
Administrative Adjudication
The process by which an independent commission or agency fills in the details of a vague law by formulating, proposing, and approving rules, regulations and standards that will be enforced to implement the policy
Administrative Rule Making
A law that gives bureaucracies and other gov’t entities the legal authority to spend money
Appropriations/ Appropriation Law
A law that provides the plan of action to address a given societal concern and identifies the executive branch unit that will put the plan into effect
Authorization Law
These measure states the maximum amount the agencies can give on a certain program
Authorization of Spending
The collection of all national executive branch organizations
Bureaucracy
A large organization with the following features; a division of labor, specialization of job tasks, hiring systems based on worker competency, hierarchy with a vertical chain of command, and standards operating procedures
Bureaucratic Structure
People employed in a gov’t executive branch unit to implement public policy; public administrators; public servants
Bureaucrats
Bureaucrats hired through a merit based personnel system and who have job protection
Civil Servants
Oversees process of the merit system
Civil Service Commission
-Reaffirmed and expanded merit principle of Pendleten
-Altered how a bureaucrat is hired, evaluated and discussed
-Limited preferences for returns
-Creates: SES, OPM, Merit Systems protection board and OSC
Civil Service Reform Act
government offices to which people are appointed on basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria
Competitive Service
The bureaucracy’s ability to make sure firms and companies that are subject to industry regulations are following all standards and provisions
Compliance/ Monitoring
In the case of public servants, the situation in which they can personally benefit from a decision they make or an action they take in the process of doing their jobs.
Conflict of interest
Also called outsourcing; a process by which the government contracts with a private for-profit or nonprofit organization to provide public services, such as disaster relief, or resources needed by the government, such as fighter planes.
contracting-out
One of 15 executive branch units responsible for a broadly defined policy area and whose top administrator (secretary) is appointed by the president, is confirmed by the Senate, and serves at the discretion of the president.
department
The power delegated to bureaucracy to use their expertise and judgement when developing new rules. interpreting legislation and ultimately determining public policy
Discretionary Authority
Employment in a federal position or with an agency that is outside the federal competitive grade
Expected service
Created after the Russian Revolution to prevent radicals from taking over (Edgar Hoover)
FBI
Give all citizens the right to inspect all records of federal agencies expect those containing military intelligence or trade secrets; increased accessibility of bureaucracy
Freedom of Information act
An executive branch unit that sells a service and is expected to be financially self-sufficient.
government corporation
Goal: To create a non partisan, potentially neutral civil service
Hatch Act
An executive branch unit created by Congress and the president that is responsible for a narrowly defined function and whose structure is intended to be protected from partisan politics.
independent administrative agency
An executive branch unit outside of cabinet departments, responsible for developing standards of behavior within specific industries and businesses, monitoring compliance with these standards, and imposing sanctions on violators.
independent regulatory commission
Political appointees who work within a government agency to ensure the integrity of public service by investigating allegations of misconduct by bureaucrats.
inspectors general
Interest based relationship between a bureaucratic agencies, a congressional committee, and a interest group focused on a given issue
Iron triangle
Network of interest groups, congressional committee, bureaucratic agency, universities, local gov’t and the mass media who regularly debate a particular issue
Issue networks
Competitive written exams for many job applicants
Merit system
A 1993 effort, To make bureaucracy work better and cost less
NPR
National Performance Review
The agency responsible for providing a regulatory review process of executive branch agencies to ensure that their policies are in line with the prez
Office of Information and Regulatory affairs
In charge of hiring for the bureaucracy
Office of personal management
The process by which Congress checks the executive branch and federal bureaucracy to ensure that congressional laws are being admitted according to the legislators intent
Oversight
A personnel system in which the chief executive officer (CEO) can appoint whomever he or she wants to top bureaucratic positions, without the need for open competition for applicants; those hired through patronage typically serve at the pleasure of the CEO who hired them.
Patronage system
Created the merit system, created the civil service commission to oversee process, professionalized the bureaucracy with experts
Pendleton civil service act
A publication that lists the top jobs in the bureaucracy to which the president will appoint people through the patronage system.
plum book
bureaucratic rules and procedures that are viewed as inefficient, dehumanizing, and requiring tedious paperwork
red tape
The concept that elected government officials, who are accountable to the voters, create and approve public policy, and then competent, politically neutral bureaucrats implement the public policy.
politics-administration dichotomy
A bureaucracy in which the people serving resemble the larger population whom they serve in demographic characteristics such as race, age, ethnicity, sex, religion, and economic status.
representative bureaucracy
A unique personnel system for top managerial, supervisory, and policy positions offering less job security but higher pay than the merit-based civil service system.
senior executive service (SES)
People hired and paid by private for-profit and nonprofit organizations that implement public policy through a government contract.
shadow bureaucrats
Practice of regarding loyal party leader with jobs
Spoils system
A clause in legislation that sets an expiration date for an authorized program or policy unless Congress reauthorizes it.
sunset clause
Legislation that opens up government functions and documents to the public.
sunshine laws
A bureaucrat or private party who discloses to the government mismanagement, fraud, waste, corruption, or threats to public health and safety.
whistleblower
A law passed in 1981 which created an office of special council to investigate complaints from bureaucrats claiming they were punished after reporting to Congress about waste fraud on abuse in their agencies
Whistleblower Protection Act
