CH 8 VOCAB: Valerie Guevara Flashcards
federal bureaucracy
The thousand of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs
Sentence: Federal bureaucracy is responsible for regulating federal laws.
Max Weber
German sociologist active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who articulated the hierarchical structure and near-mechanical functioning of bureaucracies in complex societies
Sentence: Max Weber is an influential figure to the US Government and its ideals.
spoils system
The firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party
Sentence: The spoils system is biased.
patronage
Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support
Sentence: Many political figures have patrons who support their campaigns.
merit system
A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability rather than party loyalty
Sentence: The merit system is a fair and just way to hire individuals.
Pendleton Act
Reform measure that established that principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission
Sentence: Pendleton Act involves the administration of exams.
civil service system
The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected
Sentence: The merit system and civil service system go hand in hand.
Sixteenth Amendment
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national income tax
Sentence: The sixteenth amendment deals with taxes.
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
Sentence: World War I was a watershed moment is US history.
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 1930s
Sentence: The Great Depression was a result of World War I.
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
Sentence: World War II was one of the most gruesome wars in history.
G.I. (Government Issue) Bill
Federal legislation enacted in 1944 that provided college loans for returning veterans and reduced mortgage rates to enable them to buy homes
Sentence: The B.I Bill covers the cost of some students college tuition.
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 reform, and unemployment relief
Sentence: Great society was an attempt to combat poverty.
Department of Homeland Security
Cabinet department created after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts
Sentence: The Department of Homeland Security is a part of the presidents cabinet.
Cabinet department
Major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in a particular government function, such as defense, commerce, or agriculture
Sentence: The president selects the cabinet members of the cabinet department.
independent executive agencies
Governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform service rather than regulatory functions
Sentence: Independent executive agencies are important to the government’s functionality.
independent regulatory commission
An entity created by Congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specified interest or economic activity
Sentence: Independent regulatory commission was created by congress.
government corporations
Business established by Congress to perform 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
Sentence: Government corporations are essential to the functionality of the US.
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
Sentence: Public servants cannot participate in partisan campaigns due to the Hatch Act.
implementation
The process by which a law or policy is put into operation
Sentence: Many laws are implemented every year.
iron triangles
The relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
Sentence: Iron triangles are essential to the functionality of the US government.
issue networks
The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas
Sentence: Issue networks deal with informal relationships.
interagency councils
Working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of governmental agencies
Sentence: Interagency councils are a fundamental part of the US government.
policy coordinating committee (PCCs)
Committees created at the sub-Cabinet level to facilitate interactions between agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems
Sentence: PCCs are the middlemen between agencies an departments.
administrative discretion
The ability or bureaucrats to make choices concerning the nest way to implement congressional or executive intentions
Sentence: When bureaucrats make decisions they use
administrative discretion.
rule making
A quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative
Sentence: Rule making is important to the legislative branch.
regulations
Rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law
Sentence: Regulations are necessary to the US government.
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
Sentence: Federal Register is the journal for the United States of America.
administrative adjudication
A quasi-judicial process in which a bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties similar to the way courts resolve disputes
Sentence: Administrative adjudication is a bureaucratic agency.