UNIT 2- The Bureaucracy (Ch. 8)

federal bureaucracy

thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs

spoils system

the firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party

patronage

jobs, grants, or other favors 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

16th Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

Great Society

a domestic program in the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson that instituted federally sponsored social welfare programs.

cabinet departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Justice…) Headed by a Secretary

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 specific interest or economic activity

government corporations

businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide but don't because they're not very profitable. Ex: U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak

implementation

The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.

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

subcabinet-level committees created to facilitate interactions between 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

An official document, which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.

lame duck

an outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term, after retiring or being defeated for reelection