The Federal Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

System of organization and control based on the principles of hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formalized rules

Cabinet (executive) Departments

Major administrative organizations within the federal executive bureaucracy

Clientele groups

Interest groups that benefit from activities of particular bureaucratic agency

Demographic representativeness

Bureaucracy will be more responsive to the public

Formalized rules

Standardized procedures and established regulations by bureaucracy

Government corporations

Similar to private corporations that change for their services but in different funding

Hierarchical authority

Chain of command within an organization where officials have control over those below them

Independent agencies

Bureaucratic agencies that are similar to cabinet departments but usually have a narrower area of responsibility

Job Specialization

Defined explicitly and that a precise division of labor

Merit system

Managing the bureaucracy by people who are qualified

Neutral competence

Administration objective of a merit based bureaucracy

Patronage system

Managing the bureaucracy by people who are rewarded

Policy implementation

Primary function of bureaucracy; carrying out authoritative decisions of Congress, President, courts

Presidential commissions

Organization within the bureaucracy that are headed by commissions appointed by the president

Regulatory agencies

Monitors and regulating ongoing economic activities, SEC. EPA

Whistleblowing

Internal check and bureaucracy

Spoils system

Granting public office to individuals in return for political favors