Chapter 8 (Executive Branch + Federal Bureaucracy)

Question 1

Bureaucracy

Answer 1

the government agencies, institutions, and personnel that implement and administer laws and programs

Question 2

Spoils system

Answer 2

the practice that allows the firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to be replaced by loyalists of the newly elected party

Question 3

Patronage

Answer 3

jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support

Question 4

Merit system

Answer 4

a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

Question 5

Civil service system

Answer 5

the merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected

Question 6

Great Depression

Answer 6

global economic shutdown that began in 1929 and lasted till the end of the 1930s

Question 7

Cabinet departments

Answer 7

major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations

Question 8

Independent executive agencies

Answer 8

gov. units that closely resemble a cabinet dept. but have narrower areas of responsibility, and preform services

Question 9

Independent regulatory commission

Answer 9

an entity created by congress outside a major executive dept. that regulates a specified interest or economic activity

Question 10

Government corporations

Answer 10

businesses established by congress to preform functions that private businesses could provide

Question 11

Hatch Act

Answer 11

1939, prohibits civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns

Question 12

Iron triangles

Answer 12

the ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congress

Question 13

Issue networks

Answer 13

the loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

Question 14

Interagency councils

Answer 14

working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of gov. agencies

Question 15

Policy coordinating committees (PCCs)

Answer 15

committees created at the sub-cabinet level to facilitate interactions between agencies and depts. to handle complex policy problems

Question 16

Rule making

Answer 16

a quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act

Question 17

Regulations

Answer 17

rules governing the operation of all gov. programs that have the force of law

Question 18

Federal register

Answer 18

official journal of the US gov. includes all federal rules and notices so citizens can adhere to them