ch.14 test

bureaucracy

The collection of all national executive branch organizations.

bureaucrats

People employed in a government executive branch unit to implement public policy; public administrators; public servants.

shadow bureaucrats

People hired and paid by private for-profit and nonprofit organizations that implement public policy through a government contract.

contracting-out

Also called outsourcing; a process by which the government contracts with a private for-profit or nonprofit organization to provide public services, such as disaster relief, or resources needed by the government, such as fighter planes.

bureaucratic structure

A large organization with the following features: a division of labor, specialization of job tasks, hiring systems based on worker competency, hierarchy with a vertical chain of command, and standard operating procedures.

patronage system

A personnel system in which the chief executive officer (CEO) can appoint whomever he or she wants to top bureaucratic positions, without the need for open competition for applicants; those hired through patronage typically serve at the pleasure of the CEO who hired them.

plum book

A publication that lists the top jobs in the bureaucracy to which the president will appoint people through the patronage system.

senior executive service

A unique personnel system for top managerial, supervisory, and policy positions offering less job security but higher pay than the merit-based civil service system.

merit-based civil service

A personnel system in which bureaucrats are hired on the basis of the principles of competence, equal opportunity (open competition), and political neutrality; once hired, these public servants have job protection.

civil servants

Bureaucrats hired through a merit-based personnel system and who have job protection.

representative bureaucracy

A bureaucracy in which the people serving resemble the larger population whom they serve in demographic characteristics such as race, age, ethnicity, sex, religion, and economic status.

department

One of 15 executive branch units responsible for a broadly defined policy area and whose top administrator (secretary) is appointed by the president, is confirmed by the Senate, and serves at the discretion of the president.

independent administrative agency

An executive branch unit created by Congress and the president that is responsible for a narrowly defined function and whose structure is intended to be protected from partisan politics.

independent regulatory commission

An executive branch unit outside of cabinet departments, responsible for developing standards of behavior within specific industries and businesses, monitoring compliance with these standards, and imposing sanctions on violators.

government corporation

An executive branch unit that sells a service and is expected to be financially self-sufficient.

politics-administration dichotomy

The concept that elected government officials, who are accountable to the voters, create and approve public policy, and then competent, politically neutral bureaucrats implement the public policy.

authorization law

A law that provides the plan of action to address a given societal concern and identifies the executive branch unit that will put the plan into effect.

appropriation law

A law that gives bureaucracies and other government entities the legal authority to spend money.

administrative discretion

The authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgment when determining how to implement public policy.

administrative rule making

The process by which an independent commission or agency fills in the details of a vague law by formulating, proposing, and approving rules, regulations, and standards that will be enforced to implement the policy.

administrative adjudication

The process by which agencies resolve disputes over the implementation of their administrative rules.

sunshine laws

Legislation that opens up government functions and documents to the public.

sunset clause

A clause in legislation that sets an expiration date for an authorized program or policy unless Congress reauthorizes it.

conflict of interest

In the case of public servants, the situation in which they can personally benefit from a decision they make or an action they take in the process of doing their jobs.

whistleblower

A bureaucrat or private party who discloses to the government mismanagement, fraud, waste, corruption, or threats to public health and safety.

inspectors general

Political appointees who work within a government agency to ensure the integrity of public service by investigating allegations of misconduct by bureaucrats.

how does the president check the bureaucracy?

• appoint and remove agency heads
• issue executive order
• recommend an agency’s budget
• reorganize the bureaucracy

how can congress check the bureaucracy?

• create/abolish agencies and departments
• cut or reduce funding
• investigate agency activities
• hold committee hearings
• pass legislation that alters agency’s functions
• influences or even fail to confirm presidential appointments

what are some independent agencies

• smithsonian institution
• office of personnel management
• general services administration

what are some regulatory agencies

• consumer product safety commission
• interstate commerce commission

what are some government corporations?

• united states postal service
• federal deposit insurance corporation

what are the 3 points of the iron triangle?

• congressional committee
• federal agency, department, etc
• an interest group

how does the congressional committee and interest group interact?

• friendly legislation and oversight
• electoral support

how does the congressional committee interact with the bureaucracy?

• funding and political support
• policy choices and execution

how does the bureaucracy and interest group interact?

• low regulation and special favors
• congressional support via lobby

how big is the federal bureaucracy?

4 million

who are political appointees?

bureaucrats who were chosen via the patronage system

who are civil servants?

bureaucrats hired through the merit based personnel system

who are senior executives?

• hybrid of political appointees and civil servants
• top managerial, supervisory, and policy positions that link political appointees with the rest of federal bureaucracy

what is the bureaucratic function of administration?

• routine administrative work

• provide services

what is the bureaucratic function of implementation?

• carry out laws of congress
• executive orders of the president

what is the bureaucratic function of regulation?

• issue rules and regulations that impact the public

what is red tape?

bureaucratic rules and procedures that are viewed as inefficient, dehumanizing, and requiring tedious paperwork

what is oversight?

• legislative branch
• used to through monitoring of bureaucracies’ policy implementation
• encourages bureaucratic accountability

what are the weber features of the bureaucratic structure?

• divison of labor
• hierarchy of vertical chain of command
• specialization of job tasks
• hiring system based on competency
• standard operating procedures