Federal Bureaucracy

Question 1

According to Max Weber, a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality

Answer 1

Bureaucracy

Question 2

A system in which jobs and promotions are awarded for political reasons rather than merit or competence Compare civil service and the merit principle

Answer 2

Patronage

Question 3

Passed in 1883 an act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.

Answer 3

Pendleton Civil service act

Question 4

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

Answer 4

Civil-service

Question 5

The idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill.

Answer 5

Merit principle

Question 6

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics while on duty or for employees in sensitive positions at any time.

Answer 6

Hatch act

Question 7

The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process

Answer 7

Office of personnel management

Question 8

A schedule for federal employees, ranging from GS 1 to GS 18 by which salaries can be keyed to rating and experience

Answer 8

GS(general schedule) rating

Question 9

An elite cadre of about 9000 federal government managers at the top of the civil service system.

Answer 9

Senior executive service

Question 10

A government organization that, line business corporations, provides a service that could be delivered by the private sector and typically charges for its services. The US postal service is an example. Compare independent regulatory commission and independent executive agency.

Answer 10

Government corporation

Question 11

The government agencies not accounted for by cabinet departments, independent regulatory commissions, and government corporations. Administrators are typically appointed by the president and serve at the presidents pleasure. NASA is an example.

Answer 11

Independent executive agency

Question 12

The stage of policy making between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy for the people affected. Implementation involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program.

Answer 12

Policy implementation

Question 13

Better known as SOPs these procedures for everyday decision making enable bureaucrats to bring efficiency and uniformity to the running of complex organizations. Uniformity promotes fairness and makes personnel interchangeable.

Answer 13

Standard operation. Procedures

Question 14

The 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.

Answer 14

Administration discretion

Question 15

A phrase coined by Michael Lipsky, referring to those bureaucrats who are in constant contact with the public and have considerable administrative discretion

Answer 15

Street-level bureaucrats

Question 16

The use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector.

Answer 16

Regulation

Question 17

The typical system of regulation whereby government tells business how to reach certain goals, checks that these commands are followed, and punishes offenders. Compare incentive system.

Answer 17

Command and control policy

Question 18

An alternative to command-and-control, with market like strategies such as rewards used to manage public policy.

Answer 18

Incentive system

Question 19

The lifting of government restrictions on business industry professional activities

Answer 19

Deregulation

Question 20

Regulations originating with the executive branch. Executive orders are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy.

Answer 20

Executive orders

Question 21

Also known as subgovernments, a mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship between bureaucratic agencies interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. Iron triangles dominate some areas of domestic policy making.

Answer 21

Iron triangles

Question 22

A government agency with responsibility for making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest in some sector of the economy and for judging disputes over these rules.

Answer 22

Independent regulatory Commission