Chapter 9 The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureacracy Flashcards
The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs
federal bureaucracy
The firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party.
spoils system
Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support.
patronage
A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty.
merit system
Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commision
Pendleton Act
The merit system which many federal bureaucrats are selected
civil service system
An entity created by congress outside a major executive department
independent regulatory system
Major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in a particular governmental function, such as defense, commerce, or agriculture
departments
Governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility, and perform services rather than regulatory functions
independent executive agencies
Businesses established by Congress to perform functions that could be provided by private businesses
government corporations
The 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activists roles in partisan campaigns. This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions, working for a particular party, or campaigning for a particular candidate.
Hatch Act
The 1993 liberalization of the Hatch Act. Federal employees are now allowed to run for office in nonpartisan elections and to contribute money to campaigns in partisan elections.
Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993
The process by which a law or policy is put into operation
implementation
The relatively stable relationships and patterns of interactions that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees.
iron triangles
The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas
issue networks