Chapter 5 Vocab Flashcards
Funding that must be authorized by Congress for any federal spending
appropriations
A formal declaration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency. Some terminate in a year; others are renewable automatically without further congressional action.
authorization of spending
The initial central personnel agency of the national government, created in 1883.
Civil Service Commission
Appointment of officials based on selection criteria devised by the employing agency and Office of Personnel Management
competitive service
Law that replaced the Civil Service Commission with the Office of Personnel Management and the Merit Systems Protection Board. These agencies are responsible for enforcing existing civil service laws, coordinating the testing of applicants, setting up pay scales, and appointing people to federal jobs.
Civil Service Reform Act (1978)
Activities undertaken to establish whether a process or procedure is carried out in conformance with relevant external requirements, whether set through legislation, regulations, or directions
compliance monitoring
The ability of a bureaucracy to choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advance by laws.
discretionary authority
Appointment of officials not based on the criteria specified by OPM
excepted service
The arm of the US Justice Department that investigates violations of federal law, seeks to protect America from terrorist attacks, gathers crime statistics, runs a comprehensive crime laboratory, and helps train local law enforcement officers.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits.
Federal Election Commission
Provides a system for the public to obtain government records, as long as they do not invade individuals’ privacy, reveal trade secrets, or endanger military security.
Freedom of Information Act (1966)
Permitted government employees to vote in government elections but forbade them from participating in partisan politics
Hatch Act (1939)
The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.
iron triangle
Complex systems of relationships among groups that influence policy, including elected leaders, interest groups, specialists, consultants, and research institutes
issue networks
The ability of Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the War Powers Resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.
legislative veto
