bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

A complex organization of departments, bureaus, and agencies composed of appointed officials that carry out the day-to-day operations of our government.

Merit system

a product of civil service reform, in which appointees to positions in public bureaucracies must objectively be deemed qualified for the position.

Department

the largest subunit of the executive branch. The secretaries of the fourteen departments form the Cabinet.

Independent agency

an agency that is not part of a Cabinet department.

Government corporation

a government agency that performs like a business.

Regulatory agencies

Independent agencies whose primary mission is to impose limits, restrictions or other obligations on the conduct of individuals or companies in the private sector.

Iron triangle

the stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency and one or more supportive interest groups.

Deregulation

a policy of reducing or eliminating regulatory restraints on the conduct of individuals or private institutions.

spoils system

the practice of victorious politicians rewarding their followers with government jobs

Pendleton Act (1883)

created the federal civil service system that practices government employment should be based on open, competitive examinations and merit.

Hatch Act (1939)

limits how involved federal government employees can become in elections. This prevented political parties from forcing federal workers to take part in election campaigns.

rule-making

what bureaucracy must do in order to translate laws into action.

Client Groups

along with a congressional committee and a federal department or agency, this completes an iron triangle. This group works with the agency and is most affected by its decisions.

bureaucrats

people who work within the bureaucracy. Also known as civil servants.