Unit Five: The Bureaucracy Flashcards
administrative system that divides work into specific departments carried out by non-elected officials
Bureaucracy
bats bureaucrats from running for public office, making political speeches, or soliciting campaign funds from subordinates (bureaucracy has to be neutral)
Hatch Act
bureaucracy’s power to choose course of action and make policies not explicitly spelled out by laws
Discretionary Authority
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
Competitive Civil Service
Manages competitive civil service
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get stuff done
Red Tape
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
Iron Triangle
coalitions of interest groups, members of Congress, and bureaucrats form a close working relationship (more complicated than a simple iron triangle)
Alliance (or issue) network
removing government restrictions and regulations; has occurred recently in the telecommunications and transportation industries
Deregulation
- Implementation
- Administration
- Regulation
3 main roles of bureaucracy
carry out laws, executive orders (homeland security enforces airport security laws)
Implementation
routine administrative work (social security administration sends out social security checks, postal service delivers mail)
Administration
issue rules and regulations that impact the public (EPA sets out standards for clean air and water)
Regulation
Comprised of the 15 main departments. Headed up by secretaries, secretaries are appointed by president, confirmed by senate. Each has its own budget
Cabinet Departments
Perform services on behalf of government. These are established by Congress outside of the Executive Branch
Independent Executive Agencies
Regulate economic activities, operate independently. Once appointed, leaders cannot be removed without cause. Leaders serve fixed terms
Independent Regulatory Commissions
independent agencies responsible for filling in jurisdiction gaps and writing rules
Quasi-Legislative Agencies
responsible for rule enforcement and punishing violators
Quasi-Judicial Agencies
Businesses established by government, serve a public need, intended to be profitable
Government Corporations
The president controls the agencies’ budget access. President appoints heads to departments and can issue executive orders
Presidential Oversight
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.
Congressional Oversight
the ability of a committee to review and approve decisions of agencies
Committee Clearance
Federal Courts can use their power of judicial review to determine whether an act taken by a department was unconstitutional
Judicial Oversight
