Ap Us Government Vocab Bureaucracy

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federal bureaucracy

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

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spoils system

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

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patronage

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jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support

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Pendleton Act

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reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission

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civil service system

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the merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected

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merit system

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a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

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independent regulatory commission

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an entity created by Congress outside a major executive department

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departments

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major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in a particular government function, such as defense, commerce, or agriculture

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independent executive agency

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government unit that closely resembles a Cabinet department but has narrower areas of responsibility, and performs services rather than regulatory functions

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government corporations

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businesses established by Congress to perform functions that could be provided by private businesses

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Hatch Act

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the 1939 act to prohibit civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns. This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions, working for a particular party, or campaigning for a particular candidate

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Federal Employees Political Activities Act

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the 1993 liberalization of the Hatch Act; federal employees are now allowed to run for office in nonpartisan elections and to contribute money to campaigns in partisan elections

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implementation

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the process by which a law or policy is put into operation

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iron triangles

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the relatively stable relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

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issue networks

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the loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

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interagency councils

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working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of government agencies

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administrative discretion

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the ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions

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rule making

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a quasi-legislative process that results in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act

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regulations

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rules that govern the operation of all government programs that have the force of law

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administrative adjudication

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a quasi-judicial process in which the bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties in a manner similar to the way courts resolve disputes

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executive order

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rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law; must be published in the Federal Register