Studied by 12 peopleadministrative discretion/discretionary authority
The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions.
Cabinet/executive departments
Major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in a particular governmental function, such as defense, commerce, or agriculture.
civil service system
The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.
federal bureaucracy
The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs.
government corporations
Businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak. Often established when the financial incentives for private industry to provide services are minimal.
Hatch Act
The 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns. This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions, working for a particular party, or campaigning for a particular candidate
implementation
The process by which a law or policy is put into operation.
independent executive agency
Governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions
independent regulatory commision
An entity created by Congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specified interest or economic activity
iron triangle/subgovernment
The relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees;when a bureaucratic agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee works together to advance its own agenda and act in its own interests.
issue networks
The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas;an alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a common cause or agenda in a way that influences government policy.
merit system
A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty.
patronage
Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support.
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.
regulations
Rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law.
rule making
A quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act.
spoils system
The firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party.
red tape
excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making.
agenda setting
the power of the media through news coverage to focus the public's attention and concern on particular events, problems, issues, personalities, and so on.
budget deficit
when federal expenditures exceed federal revenues for a one year period.
entitlement programs
government-sponsored programs providing mandated/guaranteed/required benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements/qualifications.
Federal Reserve System (Fed)
The country's central banking system, which is responsible for the nation's monetary policy by regulating the supply of money and interest rates.
fiscal policy
policies regarding taxes and spending
inflation
rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.
Keynesian economics
The belief the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation
means-tested programs
An income qualification program that determines whether one is eligible for benefits under government programs reserved for lower-income groups.
Medicaid
a federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them.
Medicare
a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria.
monetary policy
the actions of central banks to achieve macroeconomic policy objectives such as price stability, full employment, and stable economic growth.
national debt
the total amount of money our government has borrowed (through selling bonds) over time.
policy adoption
the approval of a policy by legislation, people with requisite authority
policy evaluation
the systematic collection and analysis of information to make judgments about contexts, activities, characteristics, or outcomes of one or more domain(s) of the Policy Process.
policy formulation
how problems identified in the agenda-setting phase transform into government programs.
policy implementation
The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.
public policy
a system of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic promulgated by a governmental entity or its representatives.
recession
A slowdown in economic activity, officially defined as a decline that persists for two quarters (six months).
Social Security Act
provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several States to make more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and the administration of their unemployment insurance
progressive tax
A system of taxation whereby the rich pay proportionately higher taxes than the poor.
regressive/flat tax
a tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction of their income than people with higher incomes.
revenues
The financial resources of the federal government. The individual income tax and social security tax are two major examples
discretionary spending
money formally approved by Congress and the President during the appropriations process each year.
mandatory spending
spending mandated by existing laws.
expenditures
Federal spending of revenues
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