Unit Five: The Bureaucracy

Question 1

administrative system that divides work into specific departments carried out by non-elected officials

Answer 1

Bureaucracy

Question 2

bats bureaucrats from running for public office, making political speeches, or soliciting campaign funds from subordinates (bureaucracy has to be neutral)

Answer 2

Hatch Act

Question 3

bureaucracy’s power to choose course of action and make policies not explicitly spelled out by laws

Answer 3

Discretionary Authority

Question 4

government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit (by taking an exam); this ended the “spoils system” where government jobs were given in exchange for political support

Answer 4

Competitive Civil Service

Question 5

Manages competitive civil service

Answer 5

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Question 6

complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get stuff done

Answer 6

Red Tape

Question 7

informal alliances that work together to formulate and implement policy in their area of interest; they are made up of:
1) particular industry and its lobbyists
2) the congressional committee dealing with that industry
3) the agency that is actually affected

Answer 7

Iron Triangle

Question 8

coalitions of interest groups, members of Congress, and bureaucrats form a close working relationship (more complicated than a simple iron triangle)

Answer 8

Alliance (or issue) network

Question 9

removing government restrictions and regulations; has occurred recently in the telecommunications and transportation industries

Answer 9

Deregulation

Question 10

1. Implementation
2. Administration
3. Regulation

Answer 10

3 main roles of bureaucracy

Question 11

carry out laws, executive orders (homeland security enforces airport security laws)

Answer 11

Implementation

Question 12

routine administrative work (social security administration sends out social security checks, postal service delivers mail)

Answer 12

Administration

Question 13

issue rules and regulations that impact the public (EPA sets out standards for clean air and water)

Answer 13

Regulation

Question 14

Comprised of the 15 main departments. Headed up by secretaries, secretaries are appointed by president, confirmed by senate. Each has its own budget

Answer 14

Cabinet Departments

Question 15

Perform services on behalf of government. These are established by Congress outside of the Executive Branch

Answer 15

Independent Executive Agencies

Question 16

Regulate economic activities, operate independently. Once appointed, leaders cannot be removed without cause. Leaders serve fixed terms

Answer 16

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Question 17

independent agencies responsible for filling in jurisdiction gaps and writing rules

Answer 17

Quasi-Legislative Agencies

Question 18

responsible for rule enforcement and punishing violators

Answer 18

Quasi-Judicial Agencies

Question 19

Businesses established by government, serve a public need, intended to be profitable

Answer 19

Government Corporations

Question 20

The president controls the agencies’ budget access. President appoints heads to departments and can issue executive orders

Answer 20

Presidential Oversight

Question 21

Congress can create/abolish agencies. Senate confirms all presidential appointees to the bureaucracy. Congress must authorize agencies to spend money. Congress must also appropriate (fund) all government agencies and programs. In some cases congress may use committee clearance. Congress may hold committee hearings to hold agencies responsible, congress may also launch investigations of the bureaucracy. Congress can punish agencies by cutting their funding.

Answer 21

Congressional Oversight

Question 22

the ability of a committee to review and approve decisions of agencies

Answer 22

Committee Clearance

Question 23

Federal Courts can use their power of judicial review to determine whether an act taken by a department was unconstitutional

Answer 23

Judicial Oversight