AP GOV AMSCO Chapter 7

Bureaucracy

the vast, hierarchal organization of executive branch employees that take care of the federal government's business

Compliance Monitoring

making sure the firms and companies that are subject to industry regulations are following those standards and provisions

Iron Triangle

the relationship among agencies, congressional committees, and interests groups; join forces to create policy

issue network

Relationships including committee staffers, academics, advocates, leaders of think tanks, interest groups, and/or the media that collaborate to create specific policy

Civil Service Commission

oversees the process of the merit system and prevented officers from requiring federal employees to contribute to political campaigns

Civil Service Reform Act of 1978

altered how a bureaucrat is dismissed, limited preferences for veterans in hopes of balancing the genders in federal employment, and put upper-level appointments back into the president's hands, also prompted merit and performance in the bureaucracy, while giving the pres. more power to move those not performing their jobs sucessfully

merit system

hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications, included competitive written exams for job applicants

Office of Personnel Management

replaced the civil service commission; runs the merit system and coordinates the federal application process for jobs and hiring

Patronage

rewarding loyal party leaders with federal jobs

Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883

prevented the constant reward to loyal party members after James Garfield was assassinated by a man demanding he appoint him to a political office

Spoils System

system in which presidents appointed regional and local postmasters in the many branch offices across the nation expecting loyalty in return

delegated discretionary authority

the power to interpret legislation and create rules given to executive departments and agencies

Federal Register

a final printing of the record of how the regulation started, how it was developed, and how it landed in its final form

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Federal regulatory agencies that are independent, thus not fully under the power of the president, have unique charges to enforce or regulate industry-specific law

appropriations

funds set aside for a certain purpose

Authorization of spending

state the maximum amount the agency can give on a certain program

Legislative Veto

a requirement that certain agency decisions must wait for a defined period of either 30 or 90 days

Administrative Procedures Act of 1946

a law that guides agencies in developing their rules and procedures and assures that those citizens and industries affected by a policy can have input into shaping it, providing one of the many access points for stakeholders to promote their interests

Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989

prohibits a federal agency from retaliating against an employee or applicant for disclosing acts that he or she believes are illegal or dishonest

Federal Election Commission

independent regulatory commission charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance laws

Congressional Oversight

a check and balance on the agencies themselves and competes with the president for influence over them