Chapter 15: The Bureaucracy

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the bureaucracy as discussed in Chapter 15 of the lecture notes.

Bureaucracy

An administrative group of non-elected officials charged with carrying out functions connected to a series of policies and programs.

Bureaucrat

An individual who works in the bureaucracy, filling necessary and instrumental roles in government.

Civil Service Reform Act of 1883

Legislation that established the Civil Service Commission, introducing a merit system for hiring civil servants.

Merit System

A system of hiring and promoting based on ability and qualifications rather than political connections.

Spoils System

A practice where political supporters were rewarded with government jobs, often leading to corruption.

Interstate Commerce Commission

A regulatory agency established in the early 20th century that paved the way for bureaucratic growth.

General Schedule (GS)

A predominant pay scale within the civil service that classifies positions by grades and steps.

Cabinet Departments

Major executive offices directly accountable to the president, responsible for broad areas of government.

Independent Executive Agencies

Agencies that report directly to the president but are independent of the regulatory authority of any specific department.

Government Corporations

Agencies formed by the federal government to provide services partly subject to market forces, such as the U.S. Postal Service.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of 1996

A law that promotes citizen oversight by allowing access to government documents, though with certain restrictions.

Negotiated Rulemaking Acts

Laws encouraging agencies to use negotiated procedures to create rules, promoting collaboration in policy making.

Privatization

The transfer of government services to private control, viewed as a solution to inefficiencies in bureaucracy.

Divestiture

A form of privatization where government services are sold to operate in a market-based environment.

Third-Party Financing

A complex form of privatization involving agreements between the federal government and private entities to finance specific projects.