Chapter 15 Vocab

Question 1

Government by proxy

Answer 1

Washington pays state and local governments and private groups to staff and administer federal programs

Question 2

lasses-faire

Answer 2

An economic theory hat government should not regulate or interfere with commerce

Question 3

discretional authority

Answer 3

the extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advance by laws

Question 4

competitive service

Answer 4

the government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria

Question 5

name-request job

Answer 5

a job filled by a person whom an agency has already identified

Question 6

iron triangle

Answer 6

a close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Question 7

issue network

Answer 7

a network of people in Washington DC-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies

Question 8

authorization legislation

Answer 8

legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency

Question 9

appropriation

Answer 9

a legislative grant of money to finance a government program

Question 10

trust funds

Answer 10

funds for government programs collected and spent outside the regular government budget

Question 11

committee clearance

Answer 11

the ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law

Question 12

legislative veto

Answer 12

the authority of congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that congress does not have this power

Question 13

red tape

Answer 13

complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Question 14

Bureaucracy

Answer 14

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials