AP GOV chapter 7 bureaucracy

Bureaucracy

the large system of government agencies and employees that carry out laws and policies. It includes departments like the Department of Defense or Education that do the day to day work of government

Merit system / federal civil service

a system where government jobs are given based on skills, exams, and qualifications rather than political connections. Most federal workers are career civil servants hired through the merit system.

Regulation

a rule made by a government agency to carry out a law, regulations tell people or businesses what they can or cannot do (e.g. pollution limits set by the EPA)

deregulation

the removal or reduction of government rules on businesses or industries to increase competition and efficiency (e.g. reducing airline price controls)

implementation

the process of putting a law or policy into action; bureaucratic agencies figure out the details and enforce the law after Congress passes it

bureaucratic discretion

the authority agencies have to decide how to apply laws in specific situations because laws are often written broadly

bureaucratic adjudication

when agencies settle disputes or make decisions about rules and regulations, similar to a court (e.g. deciding if a company violated safety regulations)

structure of federal bureaucracy

President, cabinet departments, independent agencies, government corporations, and regulatory commissions

hiring differences in different roles

Political appointees (like Cabinet secretaries) are chosen by the President while career civil servants are permanent employees hired through the merit system

bureaucracy gov responsibilities

agencies write rules based on laws passed by Congress then enforce those rules (policy implementation)