Test 4 Flashcards
Bureaucracy
how authority is exercised over us.
3 principles of bureaucracy
Hierarchy - chain of command
Job specialization - duties
Formalized Rules - procedures or regulations you follow
Weber said
“They often stick to the rules even when its clear that bending them would produce a better result.”
In the federal democracy there are about 3 million employees. Most of them are included in one of these:
Cabinet (Department of Homeland Security)
Independent Agency (NASA, Postal Service, and PBS)
Regulatory Agencies - created when congress thinks there’s a need (EPA - can fine if don’t follow guidelines)
Government Corporations - they receive federal funding (FDIC, Amtrak - have to pay for services)
Presidential Commission (Commission on civil rights and Commission on fine arts)
Merit System
Have to have a high score on test
Have specialized training
Purpose: to get rid of spoil system - people were getting jobs because they were friends ( President Garfield was assassinated because of this issue)
How much of the budget is mandatory spending
2/3
EX: social security, medicare, unempolyment
Bureaucracy’s main task is to carry out decisions made by congress, the president, and the courts, known as
Policy implementation
EX: delivering the mail, imprisoning people who commit crimes
If funding becomes an issue clienteles become important
They will lobby congress
EX: Frank Dodd, PBS, Viox
The president has these management tools:
Reorganization - Department of Homeland Security After 9/11
Presidential Appointments - assist in decisions being equal and fair ( Social Security)
Office of Management and Budgeting - Control the money and agencies budgets
How can congress hold bureaucracy accountable?
Power of the Purse - in control of spending for agencies
They can take away power - airlines tell the prices instead of all have a set price
Oversight - Watergate scandal and the media
Bureaucracy shows accountability in itself by:
Senior Executive Services (SES) - Promote compromise between President and bureaucracy; THEY CANT BE FIRED
Administrative Law Judges - Protect individuals from incorrect decisions made by agencies
Whistleblowing - people give information and could be compensated if it saves Gov.
Demographic Representativeness - women and minorities in high Positions
How many judges are there total?
9 Total
8 Justices and 1 Chief Justice
What kind of court is the Supreme Court?
Appellate court (Circuit Court)
What does Circuit Court do?
Reviews cases that are already heard in lower courts
Its purpose is to ensure trial courts follow the law - Called Judicial Review
Main Responsibility is to establish precedent (guide for the lower courts)
What is a Writ of Certiorari?
Request for documents
After a case has been decided, the Supreme Court gives:
Decision - who they sided with
Opinion - reasoning behind decision
What are other federal courts?
District Court - everything originates in the district (Lower court)
Court of Appeals (Circuit Court) - Supreme Court justices oversee these circuits
Special Courts - trying to sue the United States Gov.
Who nominates the Supreme Court?
The president
He can ask the senators of the vacancy to help find people
Supreme Court Notes
There are no constitutional requirements to serve in the Supreme Court
Only 6 have to be present to hear a case
Serve till death or retirement
Riley v. California - unanimous vote on cell phones being searched
3 Main Sources of Law:
Constitutional Law - things the constitution says
Statutory Law - a legislative body gets together to make laws EX: speed limits
Precedent Law - guide to the lower courts
What is judicial restraint
when they closely follow the law
Judicial Activism
going to do anything I can do unless the law outright prohibits it
Economy
production and consumption of goods and services through exchange
One way the government participates in the economy
through the regulation of business
Businesses must follow government regulations that promote:
Efficiency - fulfilling as many needs as possible, using few resources
Equity - fairness
Externalities
A burden
EX: Flint Michigan Water Crisis
Economic Equity
you expect to know if the product has been recalled or refurbished
EX: lung cancer warnings on cigarettes
Benefits the government has given to the economy:
Promoting Business - low-interest loans, corporate tax breaks, infrastructure
Promoting Labor - minimum wage, unemployment, maximum working hours
Promoting Agriculture - gov. gives land and expects you to use the land to grow crops
Fiscal Policy
taking and spending
Economic depression
sharp downturn - great depression
Economic Recession
downturn - COVID
Demand - Side Economics
government spending - quantitative easing
Budget Deficit
what the gov. owes - National Debt
National Debt
$28 Trillion
Balanced Budget
Don’t owe any money
Budget Surplus
have more money than we need
The Federal Reserve System
There are 7 members who serve for 14 years, except for the chair and vice chair who serve for 4 years.
Used to: Borrow money Pay federal employees Make payments on the national debt Raise and lower interest rates
Social Welfare
Government programs that help meet basic needs:food, clothing, shelter
About how much live in poverty
18%
Poverty Line
the annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an urban family or 4, multiplied by 3 to allow for the cost of housing, clothing, and other expenses
Until the Great Depression, states had responsibility for the poor
During the depression income fell sharply and so did state tax revenues
Most states were too broke to help, but the fed has unlimited power to print and borrow money
Negative government
Belief that the government governs best by staying out of peoples lives
Positive government
Belief that government intervention is necessary when the people are faced with an economic crisis
Social Insurance Programs - pay into it
Social Security - run by the federal gov. people are not working
Unemployment - benefits for people who involuntary lost job. About $300 for 20 or 28 weeks
Medicare - provides assistance to retired individuals
Public Assistance Programs - funded through general tax revenue
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) - helps poor, disabled, and blind individuals
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) - goal is to reduce welfare reliance; 5 years is the longest within 2 yrs. head of household has to get job; for unwed teenage mothers: stay in school, identify father, live w/ guardian
Headstart - small children getting nutritional and social needs met
EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) - worked at some point; gets taxes back and qualifies for a tax return
In-Kind Benefits - housing brochures and food stamps
Medicare - healthcare for poor; typically second biggest budget item for states
Schip (State Children Health and Insurance Program) - people who didn’t qualify for medicaid
Issues with welfare
Inefficiency - in absolute need of assistance
Inequity - gov. spends more money on programs for non-poor instead of poor
Education as Equality of Opportunity
Idea: People should have a chance to succeed if they make the effort
EX:
1964 Elementary and Secondary Education Act: funding for textbooks, special ed, and teacher trainings
1964 Higher Education Act: federal assistance (pail grants)
Mandatory High-Stakes Testing
Requires: national testing
Performance: funding
Republicans Argue: schools need to be responsible
Democrats Argue: not enough funding for struggling schools
Why does the U.S. have stagnant wages?
Changes in economy
exporter now we import
Factory jobs lost to other countries
Since the 1970s job growth has been in the service sector (fast food)
Factory jobs have much larger job multiplyer
