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AP Government Bureaucracy Flashcards

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8638298754BureaucracyAccording to Max Weber, a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality. They govern modern states.0
8638298755ImplementationThe process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.1
8638298756Administrative Adjudicationa quasi-judicial process in which a bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties in a manner similar to the way courts resolve disputes2
8638298757Merit SystemA system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.3
8638298758DepartmentUsually the largest organization in government with the largest mission; also the highest rank in Federal hierarchy.4
8638298759Independent AgencyAn agency of the United States government that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departments5
8638298760Government CorporationA government organization that, like business corporations, provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically charges for its services. The U.S. Postal Service is an example.6
8638298761Regulatory AgenciesIndependent agencies whose primary mission is to impose limits, restrictions or other obligations on the conduct of individuals or companies in the private sector.7
8638298762Iron TriangleA mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. Iron Triangles dominate some areas of domestic policymaking.8
8638298763Fiscal PolicyThe federal government efforts to keep the economy stable by increasing or decreasing taxes or government spending.9
8638298764Federal Reserve SystemThe country's central banking system, which is responsible for the nation's monetary policy by regulating the supply of money and interest rates.10
8638298765Revenue AgenciesAgencies responsible for collecting taxes.11
8638298766DeregulationThe lifting of restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities for which government rules had been established and that bureaucracies had been created to administer.12
8638298767DevolutionThe effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states.13
8638298768PrivatizationTo change from government or public ownership or control to private ownership or control.14
8638298769Executive PrivilegeThe right to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to National Security.15
8638298770OversightThe effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies16
8638298771PatronageOne of the key inducements used by political machines. A _____ job, promotion or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.17
8638298772Pendleton Civil Service ActPassed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.18
8638298773Civil ServiceA system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.19
8638298774Hatch ActA federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.20
8638298775GS (General Schedule) RatingA schedule for federal employees, ranging from GS 1 to GS 18, by which salaries can be keyed to rating and experience.21
8638298776Senior Executive Service (SES)An elite cadre of about 9,000 federal government managers, established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, who are mostly career officials but include some political appointees who do not require Senate confirmation.22
8638298777Office of Personnel Management (OPM)The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.23
8638298778Standard Operating ProceduresBetter known as SOPs, these procedures are used by bureaucrats to bring uniformity to complex organizations. Uniformity improves fairness and makes personnel interchangeable.24
8638298779Administrative DiscretionThe authority of administrative actors to select among various responses to a given problem. Discretion is greatest when routines, or standard operating procedures do not fit a case.25
8638298780Street-Level BureaucratsA phrase coined by Michael Lipsky, referring to those bureaucrats who are in constant contact with the public and have considerable administrative discretion.26
8638298781RegulationThe use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector. _____ pervade the daily lives of people and institutions.27

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