Bureaucracy and Budget Crossword Terms

Progressive

Progressive

A tax that charges more of the rich than the poor

Devolution

Reagan's policy of cutting taxes and federal domestic spending and giving more responsibility to the states

Unfunded

Budget mandates to the states that are not paid for (e.g. parts of NCLB and the ADA)

Regulate

Independent Regulatory Agencies such as the FCC (radio and TV), SEC (business and stocks), and EPA (pollution) are all designed to enforce rules or (blank) industry.

Watchdog

If an agency is not doing its job well, the media may play this role and report the problems to the public

Impoundment

When a President underfunds an agency in order to influence policy (e.g. short-changing the EPA or SEC). This is NOT allowed anymore - the President can propose a budget but the process starts in the House

House

The chamber of Congress that has the power of the purse

Corporations

Amtrak and the U.S. Postal Service perform tasks that a business could feasibly perform. Therefore, these are both considered to be government (blank)

Investigate

The legislative branch, through committees, may (blank) the bureaucracy

OMB

Acronym - Prepares executive spending proposals submitted to Congress

FCC

Abbrev. of the agency that oversees what is played on the radio and television

Cabinet

Agencies in this include the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department

Iron

Term used to describe the Impenetrable relationship between Congress, Interest Groups, and Agencies - (blank) triangles

Reagan

He favored a policy of devolution - cutting taxes and the feral bureaucracy and giving more responsibility to the states

Elderly

The opposite of you - these people get more federal monies - thanks AARP!

May

Your AP Exam is the first one in (blank). YOU CAN DO IT!

Leaks

When a "secret" policy is told to the media - much to the chagrin of the President

Entitlements

Federal benefits that MUST be funded by Congress and MUST be paid to all citizens who meet eligibility criteria (e.g. social security and medicare)

Whistle Blower

A bureaucrat that sees wrongdoing in his/her agency and reports this to the media is often called a...

Federal Reserve

Sets interest rates in order to encourage economic growth (acts independently of the President)

Republican

The party that tends to be anti-bureaucracy

Deficit

The yearly amount that the U.S. is "short"

Depression

This great event and FDR led to the growth of the federal bureaucracy (see the Tennessee Valley Authority, Social Security, FDIC etc.)

SEC

Abbreviation for the agency that went after Martha Stewart for insider trading

Quasi Judicial

The power of agencies (e.g. EPA on BP) to make rulings in favor or against someone/thing)

Discretionary

The opposite of entitlement spending - does not "need" to be spent (e.g. military, highways...)

EPA

The agency that would fine BP if they dumped toxins into Lake Erie

Congress

Has the investigative and oversight function in the bureaucracy

Staff

This group (not necessarily the cabinet) is generally the President's closer advisors (e.g. hunky Rob Lowe) is the White House (blank)

Medicare

Along with Social Security, the other largest entitlement program

FEMA

The federal agency responsible for emergency management (e.g. Hurricane, tornado responses).

Monetary

The policy (controlled by the Federal Reserve) that attempts to control inflation by increasing or decreasing the money supply.

Fiscal

The type of policies that refer to the government's power to tax and spend

Senate

Ratifies or approves cabinet nominees

Loyal

A lifelong bureaucrat working for the SEC, though technically under the Executive branch, he/she may not feel (blank) to the President

President

Nominates the heads of cabinet departments

Debt

The total amount of money that the U.S. owes

States

Some Conservatives argue that the growth of the federal government (e.g. NCLB, ADA, etc.) takes power away from the...