AP Gov - Chapter 14 Vocab

Bureaucrats

People employed in a government executive branch unit to implement public policy; public administrators; public servents

Bureaucracy

The collection of all national executive branch organizations

Shadow bureaucrats

People hired and paid by private for-profit and nonprofit organizations that implement public policy through a government contract

Contracting-out

Also called outsourcing or privatizing; a process by which the government contracts with a private for-profit or nonprofit organization to provide public services, such as disaster relief, or resources needed by the government, such as fighter planes

Bureaucratic structure

A large organization with the following features: a division of labor, specialization of job tasks, hiring systems based on worker competency, hierarchy with a vertical chain of command, and standard operating procedures

Patronage system

A personal system in which the chief executive officer (CEO) can appoint whomever he or she wants to top bureaucratic positions, without the need to open competition for applicants; those hired through patronage typically serve at the pleasure of the CEO who hired them

Plum book

A publication that lists the top jobs in the brueaucracy to which the president will appoint people through the patronage system

Senior Executive Service (SES)

A unique personnel system for top managerial, supervisory, and policy positions offering less job security but higher pay than the merit-based civil service system

Merit-based civil service

A personnel system in which bureaucrats are hired on the basis of the principles of compentence, equal opportunity (open competition), and political neutrality; once hired, these civil servants have job protection

Civil servants

Bureaucrats hired through a merit-based personnel system and who have job protection

Representative bureaucracy

A bureaucracy in which the people serving resemble the larger population whom they serve in demographic characteristics such as race, age, ethnicity, sex, religion, and economic status

Department

One of the fifteen executive branch units responsible for a broadly defined policy area and whose top administrator (secretary) is appointed by the president, is confirmed by the Senate, and serves at the discretion of the president

Independent administrative agency

An executive branch unit created by Congress and the president that is responsible for a narrowly defined function and whose structure is intended to protect it from partisan politics

Independent regulatory commission

An executive branch unit outside of cabinet departments responsible for developing standards of behavior within specific industries and businesses, monitoring compliance with these standards, and imposing sanctions on violators

Government corporation

An executive branch unit that sells a service and is expected to be financially self-sufficient

Politics-administration dichotomy

The concept that elected government officials, who are accountable to the voters, create and approve public policy, and then competent, politically neutral bureaucrats impement the public policy

Authorization law

A law that provides the plan of action to address a given societal concern and identifies the executive branch unit that will put the plan into effect

Appropriation law

A law that gives bureaucracies and other government entities the legal authority to spend money

Administrative discretion

The authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgement when determining how to implement public policy

Administrative rule making

The process by which an independent commission or agency fills in the details of a vague law by formulating, proposing, and approving rules, regulations, and standards that will be enforced to implement the policy

Administrative adjudication

The process by which agencies resolve disputes over the implementation of their administrative rules

Sunshine laws

Legislation that opens up government activities and documents to the public

Sunset clause

A clause in legislation that sets an expiration date for an authorized program or policy unless Congress reauthorizes it

Conflict of interest

In the case of public servants, the situation in which they can personally benefit from a decision they make or an action they take in the process of doing their jobs

Whistleblower

A civil servant who discloses to the government mismanagement, fraud, waste, corruption, or threats to public health and safety

Inspectors general

Political appointees who work within a government agency to ensure the integrity of public service by investigating allegations of misconduct by bureaucrats