AP Gov Ch. 7: The Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

Hierarchical org. of executive branch employees.

Cabinet Secretaries

Helps manage beaurocracy

Agencies

Divide depts. to goals and workloads

Iron Triangle

Relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Issue Networks

Experts and stakeholders

Patronage

Bureaucracy became a place to reward loyal party leaders w/ fed jobs (in early days of nation)

Spoils System

Presidents appointed regional and local postmasters in the many branch offices expecting loyalty in return

Pendleton Civil Service Act

!893 - to prevent constant reward to loyal party members

Merit System

Competitive, written exams for many job applications

Civil Service Commission

Bipartisan, to oversee the process and prevented officials from requiring fed. employees to contribute to political campaigns

Civil Service Reform Act

Authorized Pres to create rules and regulations for a civil service.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Merit system and coordinates the Ged. application process for jobs and hiring.

National Performance Review (NPR)

Clinton’s key document in assessing federal govt.

Delegated Discretionary Authority

Power to interpret legislation and create laws - to executive depts. and agencies.