A.P. Chapter 15 vocab- The Bureaucracy

bureaucracy

an administrative group of nonelected officials charged with carrying out functions connected to

a series of policies and programs

bureaucrats

the civil servants or political appointees who fill nonelected positions in government and make up the bureaucracy

cabinet

Advisory council for the president, consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president

central clearance

Review of all executive branch testimony, reports, and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president’s agenda

civil servants

the individuals who fill nonelected positions in government and make up the bureaucracy; also known as bureaucrats

department

The largest organization in American government structure

entitlement programs

Government programs, such as unemployment insurance, disaster relief, and disability payments, that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.

government corporation

A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.

Hatch Act

Federal statute barring federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds.

independent regulatory commission

A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress.

independent agency

A government entity that is independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Merit System

a system of filling civil service positions by using competitive examinations to value experience and competence over political loyalties

negotiated rulemaking

a rulemaking process in which neutral advisors convene a committee of those who have vested interests in the proposed rules and help the committee reach a consensus on them

Office of Personel Management

Agency that administers civil service laws, rules, and regulations.

oversight

Legislative or executive review of a particular government program or organization.

patronage

the use of government positions to reward individuals for their political support

pay schedule

a chart that shows salary ranges for different levels of positions vertically and for different ranks of seniority horizontally

privatization

measures that incorporate the market forces of the private sector into the function of government to varying degrees

public administration

the implementation of public policy as well as the academic study that prepares civil servants to work in government

red tape

The mechanisms, procedures, and rules that must be followed to get something done

rule-making process

The formal process for making regulations.

spoils system

a system that rewards political loyalties or party support during elections with bureaucratic appointments after victory

whistleblower

a person who publicizes misdeeds committed within a bureaucracy or other organization