03b. The Executive Branch, Bureaucracy & Budget

Bureaucracy

A hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality -- describes the way the Executive Branch functions.

Patronage

One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone -- how government used to typically function, and still does today, to a degree.

Civil service

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service

Merit principle

the idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill -- largely characterizes the Executive bureaucracy today.

White House Office

EOP group that includes the President's most trusted personal advisors (led by White House Chief of Staff); members do not need senate confirmation

Chief of Staff

Head of the White House staff, who has continuous, direct contact with the president. Referred to as the president's gatekeeper.

Executive Office of the President

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units.

National Security Council

The committee that links the president's foreign and military policy advisers. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The office that prepares the president's annual budget proposal, reviews the budget and programs of the executive departments, supplies economic forecasts, and conducts detailed analyses of proposed bills and agency rules.

Cabinet departments

A group of 15 Executive agencies led by presidential advisors not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one (traced to Washington) -- today the Cabinet has 14 secretaries + an attorney general -- examples = State Dept., Dept. of Defense

Dept. of State

Oldest Cabinet dept., manages U.S. foreign relations with all other nations

Dept. of Defense

Largest Cabinet dept., responsible for all military activities -- home of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, heads of all four military branches

Government corporations

A government organization that, like business corporations, provides a service that could be delivered by the private sector and typically charges for its services. The U.S. Postal Service is an example.

Independent executive agencies

The government agencies not accounted for by Cabinet departments, independent regulatory commissions, and government corporations. Administrators are typically appointed by the president and serve at the president's pleasure. Examples = NASA, FBI, EPA.

Independent regulatory commission

A government agency with responsibility for making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest in some sector of the economy and for judging disputes over these rules - Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an example.

Policy implementation

The stage of policymaking between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy for the people affected. Implementation involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program.

Discretionary authority

Power of Executive agencies to take a law and translate it into a specific set of rules/guidelines -- and then to ensure it is achieved -- agencies have a lot of FLEXIBILITY in doing all this

Compliance monitoring

An Executive agency's power to FOLLOW UP, to make sure corporations, etc. are actually doing what they're supposed to, in terms of following federal regulations - example = EPA sending agents to measure air/water samples near a factory that had recently violated EPA environmental standards

Appropriations

Funding that must be authorized by Congress for any federal spending -- Executive agencies need this money, and so this is a way Congress can act to control these agencies.

Oversight hearings

Hearings held by a Congressional Committee to review the performance of an agency -- way Congress can hold them accountable

Red tape

Complex Executive agency rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883

Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Executive Branch office in charge of hiring for most federal agencies, making sure the agencies and departments hire and maintain a quality work force.

Iron Triangles

Also known as subgovernments -- a mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship between:

1. bureaucratic agencies

2. interest groups

3. congressional subcommittees

... which come to dominate many areas of American policymaking -- WITHOUT the American people knowing much about it, or having much say in it