Key Terms from Bureaucracy and Politics

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on bureaucracy, political processes, and public opinion.

Bureaucracy

A complex structure of offices, tasks, and rules in which employees have specific responsibilities and work within a hierarchy of authority.

Bureaucratic culture

The norms and regular patterns of behavior found within a bureaucratic organization that shape employees' behavior.

Committee and conference reports

Documents submitted by committees that instruct agencies on how Congress expects them to use their discretion.

Deep state

A term used to critique bureaucracy, suggesting a coordinated conspiracy among agency officials to thwart the president's will.

Federal Register

A government publication that lists all proposed federal regulations.

Fire alarms

Oversight mechanism where Congress sets up processes for organized groups to detect failures in law implementation.

Government Accountability Office

An office that audits programs and agencies, reporting to Congress on their performance.

Hearings and investigations

Meetings where bureaucrats explain and defend their decisions, often including outside criticism.

Inspectors General

Independent offices in government agencies that audit and investigate on Congress’s behalf.

Iron triangle

A stable, mutually beneficial relationship among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and organized interests.

Issue network

A loose and variable web of relationships among representatives of various interests in public policy.

Legislative veto

A procedure allowing Congress to reject an action taken by the president or an executive agency.

Rider

An amendment to a bill that is not related to the legislation.

Red tape

Excessive paperwork contributing to bureaucratic delays.

Rotation in office

The practice of citizens serving in public office for a limited term before returning to private life.

Spoils system

A system awarding government jobs to political supporters of newly elected officeholders.

Mandatory reports

Statements in a political campaign explaining why voters should prefer one candidate over others.

Police patrols

Direct congressional oversight of agencies to ensure faithful implementation of laws.

Aggregate partisanship

The distribution of the electorate identifying with each political party.

Aggregate public opinion

The totality of individual opinions in a democracy.

Ambivalence

A state of mind where particular issues evoke conflicting attitudes and beliefs.

Attitude

An organized manner of thinking and feeling about individuals, groups, or issues.

Cognitive shortcut

A mental device allowing complex decisions based on limited information.

Conservative

A proponent of a political ideology that favors limited government and traditional social norms.

Core values

Moral beliefs that underpin attitudes toward political and other issues.

Framing

Providing context that influences how citizens evaluate candidates and political issues.

Issue publics

Groups of citizens highly attentive to specific areas of public policy.

Liberal

A proponent of a political ideology favoring government action to address inequalities.

Measurement error

Uncertainties in public opinion from misalignment between survey questions and public understanding.

Opinion leader

A highly engaged citizen whom others turn to for political information.

Political socialization

The process by which citizens acquire their political beliefs and values.

Public opinion

Opinions held by private persons that governments find prudent to heed.

Blame game

A political strategy where officials shift responsibility for failures onto opponents.

Brownlow Report

A 1937 report recommending the president receive additional staff and administrative support.

Central clearance

Requirement that executive branch communications to Congress be approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

Chief of staff system

Structure where the president's chief of staff manages operations and policy coordination.

Commander in chief

The constitutional role that gives the president authority over the U.S. military.

Detailed staff

Personnel from federal agencies temporarily assigned to the White House for support.

Divided government

A situation where the presidency and Congress are controlled by different political parties.

Enrolled bill

The final version of a bill passed by both House and Senate, sent to the president.

Executive agreement

An international agreement made by the president without Senate ratification.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Collection of offices providing the president with administrative support.

Executive order

A formal directive from the president on implementing laws.

Executive privilege

The president's claim to confidentiality for certain communications.

Going public

President's strategy to appeal directly to the public to pressure Congress.

Impoundment

Presidential practice of refusing to spend Congress-appropriated funds, restricted by law.

Line-item veto

Power to veto specific parts of a bill while approving the rest, ruled unconstitutional.

National Security Council (NSC)

Advisory body helping the president coordinate national security decisions.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Central management office of the president that helps craft the federal budget.

Presidential memorandum

Less formal presidential directive with legal effect when based on authority.

Signing statement

Written statement issued by the president when signing a bill.

State of the Union address

Annual speech by the president outlining national conditions and legislative priorities.

Take care clause

Clause instructing the president to ensure laws are executed faithfully.

Unitary executive theory

The view that the president has broad control over the executive branch.

Veto

The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Veto threat

A declaration indicating the intention to veto a bill in its current form.

War Powers Act (War Powers Resolution) 1973

Law limiting unilateral presidential military action without Congressional approval.

White House Office

President's closest advisers managing political strategy and communications.

Activism

Judicial behavior involving broad interpretation of the Constitution.

Amicus curiae

A brief filed by someone not a party to a case, offering legal arguments.

Attorney General

The head of the U.S. Justice Department overseeing federal law enforcement.

Blue slip

Senate tradition allowing home state senators to approve or block judicial nominees.

Concurring opinion

Opinion by a justice agreeing with the ruling for different reasons.

Constitutional courts

Federal courts created under Article III with life tenure for judges.

Courts of appeals

Intermediate federal courts reviewing decisions for legal errors.

Court-packing plan

FDR's proposal to add justices to the Supreme Court to influence decisions.

Dissenting opinion

Opinion by justices disagreeing with the majority's decision.

District courts

Federal trial courts where cases begin and factual records are established.

Emolument clause

Clause prohibiting federal officeholders from accepting gifts from foreign governments.

Federal question

Legal issues involving the Constitution giving federal courts jurisdiction.

Ideology

A coherent set of beliefs and values shaping judicial interpretation.

Judicial doctrine

Rules developed by courts shaping lower courts' interpretations.

National injunction

Court order blocking enforcement of a policy nationwide.

Procedural doctrine

Judicial rules governing court operations.

Restraint

Judicial philosophy emphasizing limited intervention and minimal overturning of laws.

Rule of four

Supreme Court rule requiring four justices to agree to accept a case.

Senatorial courtesy

Tradition allowing senators to veto judicial nominees from their home state.

Solicitor general

Attorney representing the federal government before the Supreme Court.

Stare decisis

Principle that courts should follow precedents in deciding cases.

Substantive doctrine

Legal principles guiding courts' interpretations of rights and standards.

Writ of certiorari

Order from the Supreme Court agreeing to review a lower court's decision.

Writ of mandamus

Court order directing a government official to perform a legal duty.

Candidate

An individual running for political office.

Focus group

A small group of voters discussing attitudes to help campaigns test messages.

Issue voting

Voting based on policy preference alignment with candidates.

Message

Core theme used by campaigns to define candidates and persuade voters.

Microtargeting

Using voter data to deliver tailored messages to specific demographics.

Negative or attack campaigning

Strategy criticizing an opponent rather than promoting one's own positions.

Party identification

A voter's long-term psychological attachment to a political party.

Party label

The political party's brand name used as a voter shortcut.

Performance voting

Voting based on the perceived performance of incumbents or parties.

Single-issue voters

Voters focused on one policy issue regardless of other factors.

Soft money

Party funds not regulated by federal limits, limited after campaign reform.

Australian ballot

Government-printed secret ballot weakening party control.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to choose candidates or plan strategies.

National party convention

A gathering where parties choose their presidential nominee.

New Deal coalition

Democratic coalition formed by various groups during FDR's presidency.

Party machines

Local organizations trading jobs for political support.

Patronage

Awarding jobs or favors to political supporters.

Political party

An organization that recruits candidates and helps voters understand politics.