bureacuacy

Agencies

Organizations or bodies established by the government to carry out specific functions, administer programs, and enforce laws.

Appropriations

The process by which Congress allocates funds to government agencies and programs through the passage of spending bills.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. It also refers to the administrative structure and officials within a government.

Cabinet Secretaries

The heads of executive departments in the U.S. government, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, who advise the President on policy matters.

Commissions

Independent bodies established to perform specific functions, often regulatory or advisory in nature.

Compliance Monitoring

The process of ensuring that individuals and organizations adhere to laws, regulations, and policies.

Congressional Oversight

The power of Congress to review, monitor, and supervise the activities of executive agencies and ensure they are following the intent of legislation.

Delegated Discretionary Authority

The authority given by Congress to an agency to make decisions and implement policies within a certain range.

Department

An administrative unit within the executive branch of government, headed by a secretary, responsible for specific areas of public policy.

Government Corporations

Government-owned entities that operate like private businesses, providing specific goods or services.

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Agencies with rule-making authority that operate independently of the executive branch. They are often created to regulate specific industries.

Iron Triangles/Issue Networks

Informal alliances between government bureaucrats, legislators, and interest groups that work together to shape policies in their favor. Issue networks are a broader and more dynamic version of this concept.

Legislative Veto

A mechanism, now considered unconstitutional, that allowed Congress to reject specific decisions of the executive branch without having to pass a new law.

Merit System

A system of employment based on qualifications, performance, and open competition rather than political patronage.

Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

A component of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that reviews and coordinates federal regulations and information collections.

Patronage

The practice of appointing individuals to government positions based on political loyalty rather than merit.

Pendleton Service Act

A U.S. law passed in 1883 that established the merit system for hiring federal employees based on competitive exams.

Power of the Purse

The constitutional power of Congress to authorize and control government spending.

Role of the Bureaucracy

The implementation and administration of laws, regulations, and policies passed by the legislative branch.

Rule-Making Process

The process by which government agencies issue rules and regulations that provide details on how laws are to be implemented.

Spoils System

The practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs, often associated with the patronage system.

Whistleblower Protection Act

U.S. legislation that protects federal employees who disclose information about dishonest or illegal activities within a government organization from retaliation.