AMSCO US Government & Politics Chapter 7 Vocab

Bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials in executive branch.

Compliance Monitoring

Making sure that firms or companies that are subject to industry regulation are following those standards and provisions.

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.

Issue Network

A network that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue and create a specific policy on one issue.

Patronage

Rewarding loyal party leaders with federal jobs.

Spoils System

A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

1883 law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons. Prevent the constant rewards to loyal party members.

Merit System

Created by the Pendleton Act to employ based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

Civil Service Commission

Created by the Pendleton Act to oversee examinations for potential government employees. Oversee the process and prevent the officials from requiring federal employees o contribute to political campaigns.the

Civil Service Reform Act

Altered how a bureaucrat is dismissed, limited preferences for veterans in hopes of balancing the genders in federal employment, and put upper-level appointments back into the president's hands. It also promoted merit and performance among bureaucrats while giving the present more power to move those not performing their jobs successfully.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.

National Performance Review (NPR)

The Clinton-Gore Administration's initiative to reform the way the federal government works. Its goal is to create a government that "works better and costs less."

Delegated Discretionary Authority

The power to interpret legation and created rules for department executives and agencies.

Administrative Procedure Act (APA)

Guided agencies in developing rules and procedures and assure that the citizens or industries affected by a policy have input shaping it. Stakeholders can promote their interests.

Code of Federal Regulations

Final writing of law. the the Final rules and regulations that have the force of the law. Cleanly arranges the final regulation or law.

Federal Register

A publication of the U.S. government that prints executive orders, rules, and regulations.

Homeland Secuirty

Allowing certain exemptions for immigrants

Transportation

Determining which highway project gets special treatment.

Veterans Affairs

Deciding how to administer a health program for veterans.

Education

Canceling or lowering student debt.

Environmental Protection Agency

Intervening in state environmental issues.

Federal Election Commission

Administering and enforcing federal campaign finance laws.

Securities and Exchange Commission

Determining if financial firms should be disqualified from raising money beacuse of illegal conduct.

Independent agencies

agencies in the executive branch of the federal government formed by Congress to help enforce laws and regulations not covered by the executive departments. Such as NASA, include the executive branch but have no contact with the department.

notice-and-comment rulemaking

A procedure in agency rulemaking that requires notice, the opportunity for comment, and a published draft of the final rule.

Congressional Oversight

Check and Balances on agencies and competes with eh President for influence over them.

Power of the Purse

The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing or cutting their funding.

Authorization of Spending

States the maximum amount the agency can give on a certain program

Appropriations

Funds set aside for a specific use. Release of the funds.

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

All regulation that has a significant effect on the economy, public health, and other major accept of policy undergo close review. Regulatory review.

Legislative Veto

All agencies new action must be delay and review by congress.

Freedom of Information Act

Gives the public the right to request access to records or information.

Sunshine Act

Requires most federal agencies to hold their meetings in publicly accessible places.

Whistleblower Protection Act

Protects federal government employees in the United States from retaliatory action for voluntarily disclosing information about dishonest or illegal activities occurring at a government organization.