AP Gov Unit F Flash Cards

federal bureaucracy

The departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation.

bureaucrat

An official employed within a government bureaucracy.

political patronage

Filling of administrative positions as a reward for support, rather than solely on merit.

Pendleton Act

An act of Congress that created the first United States Civil Service Commission to draw up and enforce rules on hiring, promotion, and tenure of office within the civil service (also known as Civil Service Reform Act of 1883).

federal civil service

The merit-based bureaucracy, excluding the armed forces and political appointments.

merit system

A system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections.

iron triangle

Coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.

issue network

Webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates.

implementation

The bureaucracy's role in putting into action the laws that Congress has passed.

bureaucratic discretion

The power to decide how a law is implemented and to decide what Congress meant when it passed a law.

regulation

The process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that have the force of law, to carry out the laws passed by Congress.

bureaucratic adjudication

When the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program.

political ideology

A set of beliefs about the desired goals and outcomes of a process of governance.

right

Something guaranteed, that the government cannot take away.

privilege

Something a person may obtain or receive, but that the government can take away.

party ideology

A party's philosophy about the proper role of government and its set of positions on major issues.

party identification

An individual's attachment to a political party.

conservatism

An ideology favoring more control of social behavior, fewer regulations on businesses, and less government interference in the economy.

liberalism

An ideology favoring less government control over social behavior and more greater regulation of businesses and of the economy.

libertarianism

An ideology favoring very little government regulation and intervention beyond protecting private property and individual liberty.

laissez-faire economy

Economic policy in which governments intrude as little as possible in the economic transactions between citizens and businesses.

command-and-control economy

Economic policy in which government dictates much of a nation's economic activity, including the amount of production and price for goods.

mixed economy

Economic policy in which many economic decisions are left to individuals and businesses, with the government regulating economic activity.

gross domestic product (GDP)

The total value of goods and services produced by an economy.

economic recession

A period of decline in economic activity, typically defined by two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.

unemployment rate

The percentage of people actively looking for work who cannot find jobs.

inflation

The rise in the prices of goods and services.

consumer price index (CPI)

The cost of a fixed basket of goods and services over time, used to measure the cost of living.

fiscal policy

Government use of taxes and spending to attempt to lower unemployment, support economic growth, and stabilize the economy.

Federal Reserve System

A board of governors, Federal reserve Banks, and member banks responsible for monetary policy.

monetary policy

A set of economic policy tools designed to regulate the amount of money in the economy.

medicare

A federal program that provides health insurance to seniors and the disabled.

medicaid

A federal program that provides health care for the poor.