Chapter 9 The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy

Question 1

federal bureaucracy

Answer 1

The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs.

Question 2

spoils system

Answer 2

The firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with 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

Pendleton Act

Answer 5

Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.

Question 6

civil service system

Answer 6

The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.

Question 7

independent regulatory commission

Answer 7

An entity created by Congress outside a major executive department.

Question 8

departments

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

independent executive agencies

Answer 9

Governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility, and perform services rather than regulatory functions.

Question 10

government corporations

Answer 10

Businesses established by Congress to perform functions that could be provided by private businesses.

Question 11

Hatch Act

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993

Answer 12

The 1993 liberalization of the Hatch Act. Federal employees are now allowed to tun for office in nonpartisan elections and to contribute money to campaigns in partisan elections.

Question 13

implementation

Answer 13

The process by which a law or policy is put into operation.

Question 14

iron triangles

Answer 14

The relatively stable relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees.

Question 15

issue networks

Answer 15

The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number or actors who work in broad policy areas.

Question 16

interagency councils

Answer 16

Working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of governmental agencies.

Question 17

administrative discretion

Answer 17

The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions.

Question 18

rule making

Answer 18

A quasi-legislative process that results in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act.

Question 19

regulations

Answer 19

Rules that govern the operation of all government programs that have the force of the law.

Question 20

administrative adjudication

Answer 20

A quaisi-judicial process in which a bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties in a manner similar to the way courts resolve disputes.

Question 21

executive order

Answer 21

Rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. All executive orders must be published in the Federal Register.