AP gov bureaucracy

bureaucrat

person employed in a governments bureaucracy

political patronage

the filling of administrative positions due to connections, support, or favors, rather than merit.

pendleton act

law passed in 1883 that established a merit-based system for federal employment, reducing political patronage and ensuring positions were filled based on qualifications.

federal civil system

a system of government employees who administer the public policies, regardless of who is in power

merit system

system of hiring in a bureaucracy based on testing results and education, rather than connections and favors.

iron triangle

the coordinated activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve a shared goals (very tight and closed alliance)

issue network

webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and advocates (more broad and open)

implementation

process by which the federal bureaucracy translates and puts laws passed by Congress into place.

bureaucratic discretion

the power of the bureaucracy to decide how a law is implemented, interpreted, and executed.

regulation

the process by which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that, by the force of law, must be implemented by congress

bureaucratic adjudication

the ability of the bureaucracy to act as a court to settle disputes, interpret rules, and impose punishments on the implementation of laws.