010 F26 National Govt US Chapter 8 Bureaucracy

Administrative Adjudication

The quasi-judicial process by which a bureaucratic agency resolves a dispute between the agency and a private citizen.

Bureaucracy

A large complex organization in which employees will work within specific levels of rank and authority to carry out the policies of that organization

Bureaucrats

The employees who work in a bureaucracy

Cabinet Departments

The major divisions within the executive branch, with each preforming a specific function.

Central Clearance

A requirement that all agency budget requests receive approval from the office of management and budget before the president submits them to congress

Civil Servants

Federal Bureaucrats who are not political appointees, but instead are hired according to their education and performance of an examination

Comptroller General

The head of the government accountability office

Government Accountability Office

The part of the legislative branch that is responsible for auditing how bureaucratic agencies spend money appropriated by congress

Government Corporations

Parts of the federal bureaucracy that charge fees for the services that they provide to the American public.

Hatch Act

A federal law passed in 1939 and amended in 1993 that restricts federal employees’ partisan political activities.

Implementation

The day-to-day process by which bureaucrats enforces laws and carry out policies.

Independent Executive Agenices

Parts of the federal bureaucracy with specific functions that are independent from cabinet departments, do not regulate, and do not charge fees for their services.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Government bodies that issue and enforce regulations on specified economic and social interests

Iron Triangle

A conception of bureaucratic policymaking that is dominated by congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies.

Issue Networks

A conception of policymaking as dynamic and not controlled by any particular set of groups or institutions.

Legislative Veto

An act of one or both houses of congress that overturned an administrative action. The Supreme Court invalidated such acts in 1983.

Patronage

A system of hiring bureaucrats because they supported the winning political candidate, not because they had the skill, training, and experience for their jobs

Pendleton Act

A federal law passed in 1883 that required bureaucrats to be hired and retained according to their demonstrated skill, not their political affiliation

Rulemaking

The process by which bureaucrats issue regulations that have the force of law.

Senior Executive Service

High-level bureaucrats the president places in different agencies to ensure compliance with his directives

Spoils system

Giving government jobs to political supporters as a reward for helping you win an election.

Whistleblowers

Bureaucrats who publicly expose waste, fraud, or abuse in their agency