The Bureaucracy & Judicial Branch Test Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the Bureaucracy and Judicial Branch for exam preparation.

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials; characterized by hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formal rules.

Red tape

Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to official rules and formalities that slow down processes.

Pendleton Act

Established a merit-based system for hiring government employees, replacing the spoils system.

Discretionary authority

The ability of bureaucrats to make decisions and create policies not explicitly spelled out in laws.

Rulemaking

The process through which bureaucratic agencies develop and implement regulations.

Iron triangle

A close, stable relationship between a bureaucratic agency, congressional committee, and interest group that influences policy.

Issue network

A broader, more fluid coalition of various stakeholders, including experts, media, and interest groups, that influence policy decisions.

Government corporations

Businesses owned and operated by the government, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak.

Independent executive agencies

Agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments but report directly to the president (e.g., NASA, EPA).

Cabinet departments

Major administrative units that oversee a broad area of government responsibilities (e.g., Department of State, Department of Defense).

Independent regulatory commissions

Agencies designed to regulate specific industries, independent from presidential control (e.g., FCC, SEC).

Clientele groups

Interest groups that benefit from and support a specific government agency or program.

Oversight

The process by which Congress monitors and controls the actions of the bureaucracy to ensure compliance with laws and policies.

Judicial restraint

Judges interpret laws based strictly on the Constitution and precedent.

Judicial activism

Judges interpret the Constitution in a more flexible way, considering contemporary issues and values.

Judicial independence

The principle that the judiciary should be free from political pressures and influences.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws, established by Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Structure of the federal court system

Three-tiered system consisting of District Courts, Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.

Original jurisdiction

The power to hear a case first.

Appellate jurisdiction

The power to review and overturn lower court decisions.

The Judiciary Act of 1789

Established the structure of the federal court system and granted the Supreme Court the power to issue writs of mandamus.

Checks on federal courts

Congress can pass amendments, alter jurisdiction, and confirm judicial appointments; the president appoints judges.

Stare decisis

The principle of following precedent in legal decisions.

Majority opinion

The official ruling of the court, representing the majority view.

Dissenting opinion

A judge's disagreement with the majority ruling.

Concurring opinion

A judge agrees with the majority decision but for different legal reasoning.

Rule of Four

The principle that at least four Supreme Court justices must agree to grant a writ of certiorari for a case to be heard.

Writ of certiorari

A formal request for the Supreme Court to review a lower court decision.

Judicial conference

A private meeting where Supreme Court justices discuss and decide cases after oral arguments.