Federal Bureaucracy (Chapter 13)

Acquisitive model

A model of bureaucracy that views stop-level bureaucrats as seeking to expand the size of their budgets and staffs to gain greater power.

Administrative agency

A federal, state, or local government unit established to perform a specific function. These agencies are created and authorized by legislative bodies to administer and enforce specific laws.

Bureaucracy

A large organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions.

Cabinet department

One of the 15 departments of the executive branch (State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Energy, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs).

Agency capture

The act by which an industry being regulated by a government agency gains direct or indirect control over agency personnel and decision makers.

Civil service commission

The initial central personnel agency of the national government, created in 1883.

Enabling legislation

A statute enacted by Congress that authorizes the creation of an administrative agency and specifies the name, purpose, composition, functions, and powers of the agency being created.

Government corporation

An agency of government that administers a quasi-business enterprise. These corporations are used when activities are primarily commercial.

Government in the Sunshine Act

A law that requires all committee-directed federal agencies to conduct their business regularly in public session.

Independent executive agency

A federal agency that is not part of a Cabinet department but reports directly to the president.

Independent regulatory agency

An agency outside the major executive departments charged with making and implementing rules and regulations.

Iron triangle

The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.

Issue network

A group of individuals or organizations–which may consist of legislators and legislative staff members, interest group leaders, bureaucrats, the media, scholars, and other experts–that supports a particular policy position on a given issue.

Line organization

In the federal government, an administrative unit that is directly accountable to the president.

Merit system

The selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of competitive examinations.

Monopolistic model

A model of bureaucracy that compares bureaucracies to monopolistic business firms. Lack of competition in either circumstance leads to inefficient and costly operations.

Pendleton Act (Civil Service Reform Act)

An act that established the principle of employment on the basis of merit and created the Civil Service Commission to administer the personnel service.

Privatization

The replacement of government services with services provided by private firms.

Spoils system

The awarding of government jobs to political supporters and friends.

Sunset legislation

Laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically extended as a result of these reviews.

Weberian model

A model of bureaucracy developed by the German sociologist Max Weber, who viewed bureaucracies as rational, hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning.

Whistleblower

Someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action.

Political appointee

individuals appointed to positions by the president or the president’s advisors

Elrod v Burns 1976

limited political patronage practices which protected employees from being fired or hired solely based on their political beliefs (first + fourteenth amendments)

Branti v Finkel 1980

termination based on political affiliation violates the first amendment

Rutan v Republican Party of Illinois 1990

political patronage practices in hiring, promotion, transfer, and recall decisions violate first amendment rights unless the position calls for political loyalty

Government performance and results act 1997

an act that requires all government agencies to describe their new goals and establishing methods for determining whether those goals are met (except for CIA)

Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998

an act stating the government use e-commerce whenever it is practical to do so to save on costs

The 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA)

requires agencies to modernize their websites, digitize services and forms, accelerate the use of e-signatures, standardize appearance, and be functional on mobile devices. Government websites and services provided through websites must also be accessible to individuals with disabilities

Garcetti v. Ceballos 2006

Supreme Court held that when public employees make statements relating to their official duties, they are not speaking as citizens for First Amendment purposes. The Court deemed that ___ was speaking as an employee, not a citizen, and was thus appropriately subject to his employer’s disciplinary actions

False Claims Act of 1986

allows a whistleblower who has disclosed information about a fraud against the U.S. government to receive a monetary award

Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990

act authorizes agencies to allow those who will be affected by a new rule to participate in the rule-drafting process