Bureaucracy and Political Processes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to bureaucracy and political processes.

Bureaucracy

A complex structure of offices, tasks, and rules in which employees have specific responsibilities and work within a hierarchy of authority.

Bureaucratic culture

The norms and regular patterns of behavior found within a bureaucratic organization.

Deep state

A term used to critique the bureaucracy, alleging a coordinated conspiracy to thwart the president's will.

Federal Register

A government publication listing all proposed federal regulations.

Fire alarms

A type of congressional oversight where organized groups and individuals detect failures in implementation of laws.

Government Accountability Office

An office that audits programs and agencies, reporting to Congress on their performance.

Inspectors General

Positions with independent offices that audit agency actions on Congress’s behalf.

Iron triangle

A stable political relationship among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and organized interests.

Legislative veto

A procedure that allows Congress to reject an action taken by the president or an executive agency.

Rider

An amendment to a bill that is not germane to the legislation.

Red tape

Excessive paperwork leading to bureaucratic delay.

Spoils system

A system where newly elected officeholders award government jobs to political supporters.

Aggregate public opinion

The sum of all individual opinions in a democracy.

Framing

Providing a context that affects how citizens evaluate candidates and issues.

Political socialization

The process by which citizens acquire their political beliefs and values.

Going public

A strategy where the president appeals directly to the public to pressure Congress.

Judicial doctrine

A set of rules or guidelines developed by courts that shape how lower courts interpret laws.

Public interest lobby

An organization representing causes that benefit the broader public rather than a narrow set of members.

Political action committees (PACs)

Organizations that raise and donate money to campaigns to influence elections.

Social movements

Sustained, large-scale public efforts to push for social or political change.

Cognitive shortcut

A mental device allowing citizens to make decisions based on limited information.

Attitude

An organized and consistent manner of thinking and feeling about various issues.

National Security Council (NSC)

An advisory body that helps the president coordinate national security and foreign policy.

Veto

The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Stare decisis

The principle that courts should follow precedent when deciding current cases.