Studied by 23 people
bureaucrats
the appointed officials who operate government agencies from day to day
Bureucracy
system of managing government through departments run by appointed officals
appropriation law
a law that gives bureaucracies and other government entities the legal authority to spend money
administration
the officials in the executive branch of a government and their policies and principles
discretionary authority
The ability of a bureaucracy to choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advance by laws.
"Iron Triangles"
A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. They dominate some areas of domestic policymaking.
Issue networks
alliance of various interest groups who unite to promote common cause or agenda in a way that influences government policy.
Spoils system
the system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power
Political machine
a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives
Civil service system
the practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and merit
Merit system
a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty
Patronage system
An approach to managing the bureaucracy whereby people are appointed to important government positions as a reward for political services they have rendered and because of their partisan loyalty. AKA Spoils System
civil servants
employees of bureaucratic agencies within the government
sunshine laws
laws that require government documents and proceedings to be made public
conflict of interest
A situation in which a person in a position of responsibility or trust has competing professional or personal interests that make it difficult to fulfill his or her duties impartially.
whistleblower
an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors
Bureaucracy
A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
Government corporations
A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons
Hatch Act (1939)
a congressional law that forbade government officials from participating in partisan politics and protected government employees from being fired on partisan grounds; it was revised in 1993 to be less restrictive
Office of Personnel
The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.
Management (OPM)
the alignment of all business units within an organization to ensure that they are working together to achieve core business goals.
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