The Bureaucracy

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the U.S. Bureaucracy, including definitions and important concepts.

Bureaucracy

Organizations with a hierarchical structure and specialized functions designed to implement policies and procedures.

Bureaucrat

An employee of a government or organization who is responsible for managing and implementing its operations.

Max Weber

Sociologist who coined the term 'bureaucracy' and defined its essential features.

Division of Labor

The assignment of different tasks to different people or groups in an organization.

Political Appointees

Individuals appointed to positions in the bureaucracy by the President, often based on loyalty.

Senior Executive Service (SES)

A group of high-level managerial positions within the federal bureaucracy linking political appointees and civil servants.

Civil Servants

Bureaucrats hired based on merit through a formal process, having protections and obligations.

Contracting-Out

The process where government agencies hire private firms to perform services that could be provided by the government.

Hatch Act

Legislation that restricts political activities of civil servants to maintain political neutrality.

Merit-Based Civil Service

A system where hiring and promotions are based on individual qualifications and performance, rather than political connections.

Appropriation Approval

The legal authority that allows government agencies to spend money allocated to them by Congress.

Administrative Discretion

The ability of bureaucrats to make decisions based on their expertise and judgment within the guidelines of their agency.

Policy Evaluation

The process of assessing the effectiveness and impact of implemented public policies.

Whistleblower

A civil servant who reports misconduct within the organization.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

A law that gives citizens the right to access information from the federal government.

Government Corporations

Government-owned entities that provide services or products and operate similar to private businesses.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Agencies that regulate specific industries and have independence from executive control.

Bureaucratic Accountability

The obligation of bureaucrats to report and justify their actions to the public and governmental bodies.

Public Policy Cycle

The sequence of stages in public policy development, including agenda setting, formulation, approval, implementation, and evaluation.