The federal Bureaucracy & the Judicial Branch

Judicial Independence

The principle that the judiciary should remain independent from political influence and financial pressures when making decisions.

Partisan Elections

Judicial elections where candidates declare their political party affiliation.

Nonpartisan Elections

Judicial elections where candidates do not declare a political party affiliation.

Merit System

A method of selecting judges through a nomination by a judicial commission, followed by appointment by the governor.

Federal Judges Appointment

Federal judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, serving life terms.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of the Supreme Court to hear a case first, especially in cases involving ambassadors or public officials.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of the Supreme Court to review lower court decisions.

Federalist 78

A paper by Alexander Hamilton arguing for judicial independence and the importance of judicial review.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

A landmark case that established judicial review and strengthened the power of the Supreme Court.

Criminal Law

Law that deals with crimes against society, where punishments may include fines or imprisonment.

Civil Law

Law involving disputes between individuals or groups, typically resolved through monetary compensation.

Bureaucracy

The administrative system governing any large institution, including government, that implements laws and policies.

Pendleton Act (1883)

Legislation that established the merit system for hiring federal employees, replacing the spoils system.

Iron Triangles

The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between bureaucracies, Congress, and interest groups that shapes policy.

Bureaucratic Discretion

The flexibility that bureaucratic agencies have in interpreting and applying laws.

Rulemaking Process

The procedure by which bureaucratic agencies create regulations that carry the force of law.

Checks on the Bureaucracy

The powers held by the president, Congress, and the courts to control the actions of bureaucratic agencies.

Devolution

The transfer of responsibilities from the federal bureaucracy to state or local governments.

Privatization

The transfer of government functions to private companies, such as outsourcing services.