Federal Bureaucracy Overview

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the Federal Bureaucracy in American government.

Federal Bureaucracy

A complex structure of departments and agencies responsible for implementing government policies and administering public programs.

Civil Servants

Employees of the federal government hired based on merit rather than political connections.

Political Appointees

Individuals appointed by the president to hold administrative positions in the government, typically based on their political affiliations.

Iron Triangle

The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.

Deregulation

The process of removing or reducing government rules controlling how businesses can operate.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Agencies that have the authority to make rules and enforce regulations in specific areas, often insulated from political influence.

Government Corporations

Entities created by Congress to provide services that could be provided by the private sector, usually charging for their services.

Pendleton Act (1883)

Legislation that established merit-based hiring for federal positions in order to reduce patronage.

Hatch Act (1939)

Federal law that restricts political activities of civil service employees to ensure a nonpartisan government.

Bureaucratic Implementation

The process through which bureaucracies put public policies into effect, translating laws into actionable programs.