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

The federal bureaucracy helps make all the laws in the United States

Question 2

Max Weber

Answer 2

German sociologist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who articulated the hierarchical structure and near-mechanical functioning of bureaucracies in complex societies.

Max Weber is the reason that the United States has a bureaucratic government .

Question 3

Spoil System

Answer 3

The firing of public office holders of a defended political party to replace them with loyalist of the newly elected party.

The spoil system is how Mark was given his job.

Question 4

Patronage

Answer 4

Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given s rewards to friends and political allies for their support.

Patronage is how many of the new cabinet members were able to get their jobs.

Question 5

Merit System

Answer 5

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

The merit system was created because to many people were getting jobs through patronage

Question 6

Pendleton Act

Answer 6

Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the civil service commission.

The Pendleton Act was created to help hardworking people get jobs

Question 7

Civil Service System

Answer 7

The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected

Amanda Ran was elected to her Cabinet position because of the civil service system

Question 8

Sixteenth Amendment

Answer 8

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national income tax.

The 16th amendment was able to improve the United States economy.

Question 9

World War l

Answer 9

A global military conflict that took place from 1914-1918 across Europe and its oversees territories. The United States militarily intervened from 1917-1918.

World War l made the United States a world superpower.

Question 10

Great Depression

Answer 10

A severe global economic downturn marked by mass unemployment and poverty that began in the United States in 1929 and persisted to some degree until the end of the 1930s.

The Great Depression was a hard time for most Americans.

Question 11

World War ll

Answer 11

A global military conflict that took place from 1939-1945 in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Pacific region. The United States was formally involved in the war from 1941-1945.

World War ll helped to get America out of the Great Depression.

Question 12

G.I Bill

Answer 12

Federal legislation enacted in 1944 that provided college loans for returning veterans and reduced mortgage rates to enable them to buy homes.

The G.I. bill helped the many veterans buy homes in the 50s.

Question 13

Great Society

Answer 13

Reform program begun in 1964 by President Lyndon B Johnson that was a broad attempt to combat poverty and discrimination through urban renewal, education reform, and unemployment relief.

The Great Society helped many Americans get out of poverty.

Question 14

Department of Homeland Security

Answer 14

Cabinet department created after the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts.

The Department of Homeland Security was a spread of the governments power.

Question 15

Cabinet Departments

Answer 15

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.

The number of cabinet departments have continued to expand as America did.

Question 16

Independent Executive Agencies

Answer 16

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

NASA is an example of an independent Executive Agencies in America.

Question 17

Independent Regulatory Commission

Answer 17

An entity created by Congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specified interest or economic activity.

The Independent Regulatory Commission helps manage the economy.

Question 18

Government Corporations

Answer 18

Businesses established by Congress to preform functions that private businesses could provide such as the U.S> Postal Service and Amtrak. Often established when the financial incentives foe private industry to provide services are minimal.

The first Government Corporation was founded in the 1930s.

Question 19

Hatch Act

Answer 19

The 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns. The act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions, working for private industry to provide services are minimal.

The Hatch Act was created to try to stop corruption in government

Question 20

Implementation

Answer 20

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

The law was scheduled to be implemented at the end of the month.

Question 21

Iron Triangle

Answer 21

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

The Iron Triangles is similar to the checks and balances of national government.

Question 22

Issue Networks

Answer 22

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

The issue networks help to organize the bureaucracy in the government.

Question 23

Interagency Councils

Answer 23

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

The president makes interagency councils to address issues.

Question 24

Policy Coordinating Committees

Answer 24

Committees created at the Sub-Cabinet level to facilitate interaction between agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems.

An example of a Policy Coordinating Committee is the department of homeland security.

Question 25

Administrative Discretion

Answer 25

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

Bureaucrats use administrative discretion to help run the law making process.

Question 26

Rule Making

Answer 26

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

Through rule making congress passed a legislation that was past last week

Question 27

Regulations

Answer 27

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

The regulations that is passed cannot be ignored.

Question 28

Federal Register

Answer 28

The official journal of the U.S. government including all federal rules and public notices so that citizens and organization can follow proposed changes and comply with rule changes.

Mark reads the Federal Register every week so he knows what is happening in government.

Question 29

Administrative Adjudication

Answer 29

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

The Administrative Adjudication that happen last week helped the two departments reach an agreement.