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AP Civics & Government > XIV - Federal Bureaucracy > Flashcards

XIV - Federal Bureaucracy Flashcards

1
Q

Government bureauracry

A

Organization of non-elected gov’t officials who fulfill the functions of their particular agency

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2
Q

Job of bureaucracy

A

Carry out responsibilities of federal government

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3
Q

Examples of bureacracy

A

Postal service
Federal meat inspectors
Department of Veteran Affairs

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4
Q

How does bureaucracy carry out the responsibilities?

A

Implement laws passed by Congress/ EO of President
Develop/enforce rules & regulations
Administer gov’t programs

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5
Q

Objective performed by

A

Agencies
Commissions
Departments
Gov’t corporations

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6
Q

Myth: Americans dislike bureaucrats

A

Citizens & elected officials dislike “faceless” bureaucracies
Majority of citizens report favorable interactions

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7
Q

Myth: Bureaucrats are increaisng

A

Federal is shrinking

State & local have grown

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8
Q

Myth: Bureaucrats work in D.C.

A

Most work at state/local level

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9
Q

Two distinction in civil servants

A

Patronage

Merit

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10
Q

Patronage

A

System in which hiring and promotions are based upon political factors

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11
Q

Merit

A

System in which hiring & promotions are based on skill & talent

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12
Q

In the pass, patronage system

A

was prominent

“spoils system”

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13
Q

Civil Service System

A

Pass exam(s) and promotions are based upon merit/ performance

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14
Q

Pendleton Act (1883)

A

Created federal civil service

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15
Q

Hatch Act (1939)

A

Prohibits civil servants from engaging in political activities

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16
Q

Merit based professional civil service help

A

Effectiveness of bureaucracy by promoting professionalism, specialization, and neutrality

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17
Q

Political appointees

A

Newly elected presidents fill thousands of executive positions

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18
Q

Civil servants

A

Relatively protected from being fired for political reasons

Last longer than political appointees/ elected officials

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19
Q

Types of bureaucratic federal agencies

A

Cabinet Departments
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Gov’t Corporations
Independent Executive Agencies

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20
Q

Cabinet Departments

A

15 different types
Secretary appointed by President/ confirmed by Senate
Bureaus within department

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21
Q

Cabinet Departments examples

A

State
Treasury
Defense
Justice

22
Q

Independent Regulatory Commissions

A

Make & enforce the rules in public interest
Serves fixed terms
Can’t be fired easily by President
Alphabet soup of gov’t agencies

23
Q

Independent Regulatory Commissions examples

A

Federal Communications Commission

Securities and Exchange Commission

24
Q

Government Corporations

A

Provide services to citizens that could be dealt with by the private sector

25
Q

Government Corporations examples

A

TVA: electricity to rural areas

US Postal Service

26
Q

Independent Executive Agencies

A

Any agency that is not one of the above

27
Q

Independent Executive Agencies examples

A

EPA
NASA
CIA

28
Q

The bureaucracy implement policies by

A

working out details of newly passed laws

29
Q

How does bureaucracy implement policies?

A

Creating new agency/ assign responsibility to existing agency
Develop rules/ guidelines
Coordinate resources to ensure successful implementation

30
Q

Discretionary authority

A

Ability of an agency to choose a course of action and set policies

31
Q

Implementation can be difficult

A 
Lack of clarity
Lack of resources (funding, personnel)
Lack of authority
Standard operating procedures
Fragmentation
32
Q

Discretionary & rule-making authority to implement policy are given to

A 
Homeland Security
Transportation
Veterans Affairs
Education
EPA
Federal Elections Commission
Securities and Exchange Commission
33
Q

Privatization

A

Move towards reinventing gov’t began in 1980’s

More jobs previously done by public employees transferred to private sector

34
Q

Decentralize authority trhough devolution

A

Power shifting from federal to states

35
Q

Regulation

A

One of most important/ controversial roles of bureaucracies

36
Q

US has a “free enterprise” system but

A

it is regulated

37
Q

Interstate Commerce Commission (1887)

A

Fed. regulation of railroad services

38
Q

Over the years, there has been

A

Tremendous growth of regulations

Enforcement largely dependent on bureaucratic discretion

39
Q

Criticisms on regulations

A

Overly complicated
Increased prices
Hurt American competition

40
Q

Deregulation & weak enforcement of regulations

A

Has created problems
Env’tal pollution
Economic collapse in housing & financial industries

41
Q

How can President control bureaucracy?

A

Appoint agency heads who share their policy ideas/ ideology
Issue Executive Orders
Budget
Reorganizing agency

42
Q

How can Congress control the bureaucracy?

A

Confirm/Reject agency head nomination
Budget (power of the purse)
Hold oversight committee hearings
Create more detailed legislation

43
Q

How can the federal courts hold the bureaucracy accountable?

A

Can rule a law or executive order unconstitutional

44
Q

Iron triangle

A

Relationship between regulated industry’s interest group, the regulating agency, and committees in Congress that make policy in that area

45
Q

Iron triangle example in agirculture

A

Interest groups representing farmers
& agribusiness
Federal Department of Agriculture
House/ Senate agriculture committees

46
Q

Issue network

A

Consist of informal group of interest groups, congressional staff, media, think tanks, and various others who are drawn to an issue and try to shape gov’t policy

47
Q

Importance of issue networks

A

Increase participation in bureaucracy policy

Hope to create change in bureaucracy

48
Q

Issue network example in environmental policy

A 
EPA
Department o Commerce
Department of Interior
Department of Agriculture
Commerce committee
Science & tech committee
Public welfare committee
Chambers of Commerce
Sierra Club
National Resource Defense Council
49
Q

Unelected policy-making institutions

A

Courts

Bureaucracy

50
Q

Should the bureaucracy be cut?

A

Wide variety of social & economic problems we look toward bureaucracy to solve

AP Civics & Government (36 decks)

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