AP Gov. Ch.8 Viridian Leal Flashcards
federal bureaucracy
The thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs.
The federal bureaucracy performs three primary tasks in government are implementation, administration, and regulation.
Max Weber
German sociologist active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who articulated the hierarchical structure and near-mechanical functioning of bureaucracies in complex societies.
Max Weber is considered one of the founders of sociology.
spoils system
The firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party.
Some argue that President Trump has a spoils system in place because all of the open political offices are given to his unqualified friends.
Patronage
Jobs, grants, and other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support.
Patronage can involve exchanging money for helping campaign.
merit system
A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty.
The early introduction of merit systems deprived them of patronage, and nominations for public office were outside their control.
Pendleton Act
Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.
The Pendleton Act was created in order to stop federal employment positions being filled based upon affiliation.
civil service system
The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.
The civil service system is set up in the process of fighting against the favoritism and the “pork barrel” system.
Sixteenth Amendment
Amendment to the Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national income tax.
The 16th amendment has given greater power to the federal government instead of the states.
World War 1
A global military conflict that took place from 1914-1918 across Europe and its overseas territories. The U.S. military intervened fro 1917-1918.
World War I began in 1914, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand from Austria.
Great Depression
A severe global economic downturn marked by mass unemployment and poverty that began in the U.S. in 1929 and persisted to some degree until the end of the 1930s.
The great depression occurred after the stock market had a crash in 1929.
World War 2
A global military conflict that took place from 1939-1945 in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region.
Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor marked the U.S’ entry into WW2.
G.I. (Government Issue) Bill
Federal legislation enacted in 1944 that provided college loans for returning veterans and reduced mortgage rates to enable them to buy homes.
Nearly 9 million veterans received close to $4 billion from the G.I. Bill in unemployment compensation.
Great Society
Reform program begun in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson that was a broad attempt to combat poverty and discrimination through urban renewal, education reform, and unemployment relief.
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society became overlooked by the Vietnam War.
Department of Homeland Security
Cabinet department created after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts.
Department of homeland security agents work to secure U.S. ports, borders, and skies.
Cabinet Departments
Major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in such a particular governmental function, such as defense, commerce, and agriculture.
Established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Cabinet’s role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member’s respective office.
