AP U.S. Government & Politics - Chapter 8

Vocabulary

bureaucracy

the government agencies, institutions, and personnel that implement and administer laws and programs

spoils system

the practice that allows the firing of public officer holders of a defeated political party to be replaced by loyalists of the newly elected party

patronage

jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support

merit system

a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

civil service system

the merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected

Great Depression

a severe global economic downturn marked by mass unemployment and poverty that began in the United States in 1929 and persisted to some degree until the end of the 1930s

Cabinet departments

major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in a particular government function, such as defense, commerce, or agriculture.

independent executive agencies

governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions

independent regulatory commission

an entity created by Congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specified interest or economic activity

government corporations

businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak. Often established when the financial incentives for private industry to provide services are minimal.

Hatch Act

the 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns. This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions, working for a particular party, or campaigning for a particular candidate.

iron triangles

the relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees.

issue networks

the loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

interagency councils

working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of governmental agencies

policy coordinating committees (PCCs)

committees created at the sub-Cabinet level to facilitate agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems

rule making

a quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act

regulations

rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law

Federal Register

the official journal of the U.S. government, including all federal rules and public notices so that citizens and organizations can follow proposed changes and comply with rule changes