bureaucracy
1 / 92
Term:
Definition:
Show example sentence
Show hint
Flip Card
Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Previous
  • Next
  • F Flip card
Add to Favorites Copy & Edit this set
Optimal Learn Optimal Learn will design a customized study program to help you master this flashcard set by a given deadline. Take a Quiz

Complete list of Terms and Definitions for bureaucracy

Terms Definitions
incentives ...
Ford management style circular
these are usually made annually appropriations
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority Act) Relief, Recover, and Reform. one of the most important acts that built a hyro-electric dam for a needed area.
Why is DMV so bad? ...
Bureaucracy A large organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions
american bureaucracy large complex organization of appointed official
Issue networks loose and informal relationship between large actors in BROAD policy areas and favored by political scientists (includes: lawyers, agencies, Congress members, interest groups, lobbyists..)
Pendleton Act It made compulsory campaign contributions from federal employees illegal, and established the Civil Service Commission to make appointments to federal jobs on the basis of examination rather than cronyism
bureaucratic drift the oft-observed phenomenon of bureaucratic implementation that produces policy more the liking of the bureaucracy than to the original intention of the legislation that created it, but without triggering a political reaction from elected officials
Loosely Structured Personal attitudes greatly affect ___________ roles (like voting).
Public Enterprises in France account for this percentage of all employment... 12%
Discretionary Authority the extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws
appropriation A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency.
Sunset Legislation Laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically extended as a result of these reviews.
Lyndon B. Johnson Creative Fed'ism--Civil War, gave grants to states to make them do things, increased government involvement
duplication two agencies competing for the same program, ending in a gridlock
iron triangle (client politics) a close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group that often becomes a mutually-advantageous alliance
spoils system associated with pres andrew jackson this is an awarding of gov't jobs to supporters and friends. ended with assassination of pres. james garfield
Federal Trade Commission regulates business practice sand controls monopolies
the basis on which appointments to the civil service were primarily made during most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries patronage
March-June Agencies request to OMB for the budget in two years
trust funds funds for gov programs that are collected and spent outsie the regular gov budget
committee clearance the right of committees to disapprove of certain agency actions
Concurrent Resolution An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the President.
Weberian Model A model of the bureaucracy developed by the German sociologist Max Weber who viewed bureaucracies as rational hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning
merit system protection board Settles disputes concerning employee rights and obligations, hears employee grievances, and orders corrective action when needed; think of human resource department
___ is the authority of administrative actors to select among various responses to a given problem administrative discretion
citizen advisory councils subject key policy decisions of agencies to outside consideration by members of the public
legislative veto The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power
Regulatory Agencies and Commissions Agencies that are independent of cabinet departments and are created by Congress to monitor and regulate specific areas of economic activity
Munn V. Illinois 1876; The Supreme Court upheld the Granger laws. The Munn case allowed states to regulate certain businesses within their borders, including railroads, and is commonly regarded as a milestone in the growth of federal government regulation.
competitive service The set of civil servants appointed on the basis of a written exam administered by the Office of Personnel Management or by meeting certain selection criteria.
annual authorizations Monies that are budgeted on a yearly basis; for example Congress may set yearly limits on what agencies can spend
Hearings and Investigations -Hold hearings after there has been a problem already -"fire alarm hearings" -->does not look for problems, go when the problem has already occurred (ex. 911)
Department of Agriculture (1862); Department of Labor (1882); Department of Commerce (1903); National Bureau of Standards Four bureaucratic agencies that came into being from 1861 to 1903.
Privacy Act 1974 gives citizens the right to find out what info government agencies have about them
office of personnel management The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.
ex parte milligan dissenting opinions cheif justice was against the majority opinion; he said that in certain cases (like in times of war) habeas corpus can be suspended
Size and Nature of Federal Service * EARLY DAYS-- small, function to serve, jobs were awarded based on "spoils" system * NOWADAYS- grew dramatically from 1900s-- it is now considered a large workforce (federal contracts, federal mandate for state and local governments, federal grants) -- RATIO of total workforce = steady with the bureaucracy
What are the 5 pieces of real life bureauracy? All have interests (survival)Interests are organized into the process of bureaucracies (SSA>HCFA>The routine itself drives the interests)Individuals take on interests as their ownEvery political issue has political agencies (each with own interests)Art of negotiation
Public Good uK
Rule Making a quasi-legislative administrative process that produces regulations by government agencies
NSF National Science Foundation, only significant granting agency in field of biodiversity
norm an organization's informal, unwritten rules that guide individual behavior
Laissez-faire An economic theory that government should not regulate or interfere with commerce.
FCC an independent governmeent agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio and television and wire and cable and satellite
congress powers influence appointments, alter agency's budget, hold hearings, and rewrite legislation
Clientele Services Dept of Agriculture assists farmers, Health & Human Services assists needy, VA assists veterans, Education / Labor / etc
Issue Network A network of people in Washington-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media who regularly discuss and advocate public policies. Such networks are split along political, ideological, and economic lines.
Implementation the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something)
A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics. Hatch Act
bureaucrat One who works for a department or agency of the federal govt. - civil servant, not elected, appointed by pres. and approved by senate
Civil Service System The merit-based employment system that covers most white-collar and specialist positions in the federal government.
Independent executive agencies Run by single administrators appointed by president and confirmed by Senate. Administer programs for which they were established and amy have rule making authority. Above partisan politics Example- Environment Protection Agency, NASA
Merit System The system of employing and promoting civil servants on the basis of ability
administrative discretion given by congress to bureaucrats to make decisions over general topics ex:FDA makes rules and regulation for food approval
clientele groups group of citizens whos interest are affcted by an agency or department nd who work to influence its policies
regulatory agencies (independent regulatory commissions) departments, bureaus, or independent agencies whose primary mission is to impose limits, restrictions, or other obligations on the conduct of individuals or companies in the private sector
Iran-Contra affair illegal diversion of funds from the sale of arms to Iran to a guerrilla group in Nicaragua
Independent regulatory commission Created by Congress to exist outside of major departments to regulate specific economic activity or interest
Federal Service Employee represents a cross section of American society in terms of education, sex, race, and social origins.
Merit Principle the idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill.
revolving door a legal, medical, or other system or agency that discharges criminals, patients, etc., in the shortest possible time and without adequate attention or consideration
Interstate Commerce Comissions the oldest of the regulatory agencies, first regulated railroads, but now oversees trucking as well
failed civil service commission created in 1881( failed for lack of funds)
Supervision [ Primary Characteristic] Some workers are assigned to watching over other workers-- or being the communication between workers or between levels (chain of command)
Federal Employees Political Activities Act the 1993 liberalization of the Hatch Act. Federal employees are now allowed to run for office in nonpartisan elections and to contribute money to campaigns in partisan elections.
Name-request jobs A job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified.
Government Performance and Results Act a law requiring each gov't agency to implement quantifiable standards to measure its performance in meeting stated program goals
Pros and cons of the Agency Point of View Pros: Most top-tier bureaucrats are experts in the procedures and policies of their agencies and there is a substantial degree of continuity in agency behavior no matter which political party happens to be in power. Cons: A political executive entering an agency with responsibility for shaping its direction must carefully win the support of career subordinates, because unhappy subordinates can delay action, withhold information, follow the rule book with literal exactness, or circumvent the superior and mobilize sympathetic members of Congress to threaten the executive's job.
iron triangles mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees; also called subgovernments
Regulations The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.
executive orders regulations originating from the executive branch; one method presidents use to control the bureaucracy
unclassified employees federal workers appointed to office
entitlement program Programs such as unemployment insurance, disaster relief, or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.
deregulate reduce the powers of regulatory agencies
policy implementation stage of policymaking between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy for the people who it affects; involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program
government corporation a govn't organization that, like business corporations, provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically changes for its services; ie Postal Service
Congressional oversight Congress's exercise of its authority to monitor the activities of agencies and administrators
central clearance Review of all executiove branch testimony, reports, and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program.
Chief of Staff President's right hand man, chief advisor, and "gatekeeper," part of the WHO
head one department, advise president roles of cabinent members
patronage One of the key inducements used by machines. This type of job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
Critics of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sometimes argue that the agency acts in the interest of the pharmaceutical industry that it should be regulating rather than in the interest of the public. These critics believe that the FDA is which of th a captured agency
Staff Agencies Serve in a support capacity; aid the chief executive and other administrators by offering advice and other assistance in the management of the organization
independent regulatory agency responsibl for some sector of economy, make+enforce rules, judge disputes over rules
uncontrollable spending The portion of the budget that is spent on previously enacted programs, such as Social Security, that the president and Congress are unwilling to cut.
Issues Network Theory more than 3 policy making players,many other players write policy
Senior Executive Service Established by Congress in 1978 as a flexible, mobile corps of senior career executives who work closely with presidentail appointees to manage government.
know what some of the executive department do or what they are responsible for- department of homeland security ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Coast Guard are located within
Pendleton Civil Service Act Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rater than patronage.