Bureaucracy in American and Texas Government

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to bureaucracy as discussed in the lecture on American and Texas government.

Bureaucracy

A complex structure of offices, tasks, and rules where employees have specific responsibilities and work within a hierarchy of authority.

Bureaucrat

A career government employee.

Civil Service System

A merit-based system that includes civil servants who are employed by the government.

Hatch Act

A law that restricts political activities of federal employees.

Patronage System

A system where government jobs are given to supporters of a political party.

Pendleton Act

The Civil Service Reform Act passed in 1883 that established a merit-based system for federal employment.

Red Tape

Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities; can impede decision-making.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Agencies created to enforce specific regulatory laws.

Regulatory State

A government that creates regulations in various sectors to control and manage public affairs.

Street Level Bureaucrat

Bureaucrats who interact directly with the public and have considerable discretion in how they carry out their work.