Unit 4: Federal Bureaucracy (Executive Branch)

Patronage

A job, promotion, or contract that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

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 rather than patronage.

Civil Service

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

Merit Principle

The idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill.

Hatch Act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.

Office of Personnel Management

The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.

Independent Regulatory Boards/Commissions

Agencies outside of Cabinet depts, responsible for developing, monitoring, & enforcing rules w/in specific industries/businesses and imposing sanctions on violators

Government Corporations

Government owned businesses that sell a service or product in the public interest; they are expected to make enough money to cover their costs

Policy implementation

The process by which a law or policy is put into operation by the bureaucracy; It involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program.

Administrative discretion

the authority given to bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions

Deregulation

The lifting of restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities for which government rules had been established and that bureaucracies had been created to administer.

The Federal Register

A daily publication that makes available to the public the rules, regulations and other legal notices issued by the federal administrative agencies.

Independent executive agencies

Government agencies not accounted for by cabinet departments; have a narrow defined function whose structure is intended to be protected from partisan politics (aka independent administrative agencies)

Whistleblower

an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors.

Iron Triangle

A mutually dependent relationship among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and government agencies that share a common policy concern.

Issue Network

A group of individuals or organizations-which may consist of legislators, interest group leaders, bureaucrats, the media, scholars, and other experts-that supports a particular policy position on a given issue

Sunshine Laws

legislation that opens up the process of bureaucratic policymaking and documents to the public

Sunset Laws

A clause in legislation that sets an expiration date for a program or policy unless it is reauthorized by Congress.

Inspectors General

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

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 govt entities the legal authority to spend money

Public comment period

Time allowed for the public to express its views and concerns regarding an action of an administrative agency.

Cabinet Department

One of the 15 exec branch units responsible for a broadly defined policy area & whose heads are appointed by the pres, confirmed by the Senate, and serve at the pleasure of the pres

Regulations

rules created by bureaucracies governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law

Administrative adjudication

a quasi-judicial process in which a bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties in a manner similar to the way courts resolve disputes

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

a federal statute that requires public agencies to provide certain types of information requested by citizens

street-level bureaucrats

bureaucrats who are in constant contact with the public.

Administrative rulemaking

Process by which an independent commission/agency fills in the details of a vague law by creating and approving rules, regulations, and standards that will be enforced to implement the law