bureaucracy

Question 1

Bureaucracy

Answer 1

: a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality

Question 2

four parts of bureaucracy

Answer 2

hierarchal
task specialization
merit principle
impersonality

Question 3

4 myths about bureaucracy

Answer 3

americans dislike bureaucrats
bureaucracies are growing
most work in dc
ineffective and mired in red tape

Question 4

Patronage

Answer 4

: given for political reasons rather than merit or competence alone

Question 5

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Answer 5

: act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage

Question 6

Civil service:

Answer 6

a system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service

Question 7

Hatch Act (1939):

Answer 7

prohibits civil service employees from actively participating in partisan politics while on duty

Question 8

The Office of Personnel Management:

Answer 8

the office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process

Question 9

GS (General Schedule) Rating:

Answer 9

a schedule for federal employees, ranging from GS1 to GS18, by which salaries can be keyed according to rating and experience

Question 10

Senior executive service:

Answer 10

GS 16-18; are at the very top

Question 11

Plum book:

Answer 11

lists top federal jobs available for direct presidential appointment, often w/ senate confirmation

Question 12

example of plum book job

Answer 12

ambassadorships

Question 13

which department is not headed by a secretary

Answer 13

justice b/c it’s headed by attorney general

Question 14

largest cabinet departments

Answer 14

defense, hhs

Question 15

Independent regulatory commission:

Answer 15

a government agency responsible for some sector of the economy, making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest. It also judges disputes over these rules.

Question 16

examples of independent regulatory commission

Answer 16

fcc, nlrb

Question 17

Independent executive agency:

Answer 17

the government not accounted for by cabinet departments, IRCs, and government corporations

Question 18

examples of independent executive agency

Answer 18

nasa

Question 19

Government corporation:

Answer 19

a government organization that provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and charge for it

Question 20

example of government corporation

Answer 20

us postal service, TVA

Question 21

Policy implementation:

Answer 21

translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program

Question 22

4 steps of implementation

Answer 22

creation of new agency or transferring to old, translation of goals into rules, coordination of resources and personnel

Question 23

why does implementation sometimes fail

Answer 23

Program Design
Lack of Clarity
Lack of resources
Administrative routine
Administrators’ Dispositions
Fragmentation:

Question 24

Standard operating procedures:

Answer 24

used by bureaucrats to bring uniformity to complex organizations

Question 25

Administrative discretion:

Answer 25

the authority of administrative actors to select among various responses to a given problem

Question 26

Street-level bureaucrats:

Answer 26

in constant constant with the public

Question 27

Then why not reorganize the government?

Answer 27

Because of hyperpluralism and decentralization of power

Question 28

Why was the implementation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 so successful?

Answer 28

Its goal was clear (register large numbers of African American voters),
its implementations were straightforward (sending out people to register them)
the authority of implementation was clear (had support of US AG and marshals)

Question 29

Regulation:

Answer 29

the use of government authority to control or change some practice in the private sector

Question 30

Problems w/ regulation:

Answer 30

Raises prices
Hurts American competition abroad
Does not always work well

Question 31

Deregulation:

Answer 31

the lifting of restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities

Question 32

Command-and-control policy

Answer 32

: government tells business how to reach certain goals, checks, that these commands are followed, and punishes offenders

Question 33

Incentive system:

Answer 33

a more effective and efficient policy where market-like strategies are used to manage public policy

Question 34

How can the President control the bureaucracy?

Answer 34

Appoint the right people to head the agency
Issue orders
Alter an agency’s budget
Reorganize an agency

Question 35

How can Congress control the bureaucracy?

Answer 35

Influence the appointment of agency heads
Alter an agency’s budget
Hold hearings
Rewrite legislation or make it more detailed

Question 36

Iron triangle:

Answer 36

a mutually dependent relationship between:
Bureaucratic agencies
Interest groups
Congressional committees

Question 37

iron triangle example

Answer 37

Tobacco division of Department of Agriculture
Tobacco lobby inculding farmers and manufacturers
subcommittees of the senate and houses’ agriculture committee

Question 38

constitutional basis for bureaucracy

Answer 38

article ii, “executive departments”

Question 39

do heads of IRCs require senate confirmation

Answer 39

yes

Question 40

2 roles of bureaucracy

Answer 40

provide services, regulate the private sector (munn v illinois)

Question 41

limitations on bureaucracy

Answer 41

agencies must publish their regulations befor ethey are implemented, federal government to analyze and evaluate every mandate imposed on the states and make every effort to reduce those mandates