Chapter 9: The Bureaucracy

bureaucracy

an organization characterized by hierarchical structure, worker specialization, explicit rules, and advancement by merit

neutral competence

the principle that bureaucracy should be depoliticized by making it more professional

spoils system

the 19th century practice of firing government workers of a defeated party and replacing them with loyalists of the victorious party

patronage

system in which a successful candidate rewards friends, contributors, and party loyalists for their support with jobs, contracts, and favors

civil service

nonmilitary employees of the government who are appointed through the merit system

Pendleton Act

1883 civil service reform that required the hiring and promoting of civil servants to be based on merit, not patronage

Hatch Act

1939 law limiting the political involvement of civil servants in order to protect them from political pressure and keep politics out of bureaucracy

accountability

the principle that bureaucratic employees should be answerable for their performance to supervisors, all the way up the chain of command

red tape

the complex procedures and regulations surrounding bureaucratic activity

clientele groups

groups of citizens whose interests are affected by an agency or a department and who work to influence its politcs

departments

one of the major subdivisions of the federal government, represented in the president's cabinet

independent agencies

government organizations independent of the departments but with a narrower policy focus

independent regulatory boards and commissions

government organizations that regulate various businesses, industries, or economic sectors

regulations

limitations or restrictions on the activities of a business or individual

government corporations

companies created by Congress to provide the public a good service that private enterprise cannot or will not profitably provide

bureaucratic discretion

bureaucrats' use of their judgment in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

Federal Register

publication containing all federal regulations and notifications of regulatory agency hearings

bureaucratic culture

the accepted values and procedures of an organization

bureaucratese

the often unintelligible language used by bureaucrats to avoid controversy and lend weight to their words

whistleblowers

individuals who publicize instances of fraud, corruption, or other wrongdoing in the bureaucracy

agency capture

process whereby regulatory agencies come to be protective of and influenced by the industries they were established to regulate

iron triangles

the phenomenon of a clientele group, congressional committee, and bureaucratic agency cooperating to make mutually beneficial policy

issue networks

complex systems of relationships among groups that influence policy, including elected leaders, interest groups, specialists, consultants, and research institutes

citizen advisory councils

citizen groups that consider that consider the policy decisions of an agency; a way to make the bureaucracy responsive to the general public

sunshine laws

legislation opening the process of bureaucratic policymaking to the public

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

1966 law that allows citizens to obtain copies of most public records

Privacy Act of 1974

a law that gives citizens access to the government's files on them