Test 4 Flashcards
(48 cards)
Bureaucracy
how authority is exercised over us.
3 principles of bureaucracy
Hierarchy - chain of command
Job specialization - duties
Formalized Rules - procedures or regulations you follow
Weber said
“They often stick to the rules even when its clear that bending them would produce a better result.”
In the federal democracy there are about 3 million employees. Most of them are included in one of these:
Cabinet (Department of Homeland Security)
Independent Agency (NASA, Postal Service, and PBS)
Regulatory Agencies - created when congress thinks there’s a need (EPA - can fine if don’t follow guidelines)
Government Corporations - they receive federal funding (FDIC, Amtrak - have to pay for services)
Presidential Commission (Commission on civil rights and Commission on fine arts)
Merit System
Have to have a high score on test
Have specialized training
Purpose: to get rid of spoil system - people were getting jobs because they were friends ( President Garfield was assassinated because of this issue)
How much of the budget is mandatory spending
2/3
EX: social security, medicare, unempolyment
Bureaucracy’s main task is to carry out decisions made by congress, the president, and the courts, known as
Policy implementation
EX: delivering the mail, imprisoning people who commit crimes
If funding becomes an issue clienteles become important
They will lobby congress
EX: Frank Dodd, PBS, Viox
The president has these management tools:
Reorganization - Department of Homeland Security After 9/11
Presidential Appointments - assist in decisions being equal and fair ( Social Security)
Office of Management and Budgeting - Control the money and agencies budgets
How can congress hold bureaucracy accountable?
Power of the Purse - in control of spending for agencies
They can take away power - airlines tell the prices instead of all have a set price
Oversight - Watergate scandal and the media
Bureaucracy shows accountability in itself by:
Senior Executive Services (SES) - Promote compromise between President and bureaucracy; THEY CANT BE FIRED
Administrative Law Judges - Protect individuals from incorrect decisions made by agencies
Whistleblowing - people give information and could be compensated if it saves Gov.
Demographic Representativeness - women and minorities in high Positions
How many judges are there total?
9 Total
8 Justices and 1 Chief Justice
What kind of court is the Supreme Court?
Appellate court (Circuit Court)
What does Circuit Court do?
Reviews cases that are already heard in lower courts
Its purpose is to ensure trial courts follow the law - Called Judicial Review
Main Responsibility is to establish precedent (guide for the lower courts)
What is a Writ of Certiorari?
Request for documents
After a case has been decided, the Supreme Court gives:
Decision - who they sided with
Opinion - reasoning behind decision
What are other federal courts?
District Court - everything originates in the district (Lower court)
Court of Appeals (Circuit Court) - Supreme Court justices oversee these circuits
Special Courts - trying to sue the United States Gov.
Who nominates the Supreme Court?
The president
He can ask the senators of the vacancy to help find people
Supreme Court Notes
There are no constitutional requirements to serve in the Supreme Court
Only 6 have to be present to hear a case
Serve till death or retirement
Riley v. California - unanimous vote on cell phones being searched
3 Main Sources of Law:
Constitutional Law - things the constitution says
Statutory Law - a legislative body gets together to make laws EX: speed limits
Precedent Law - guide to the lower courts
What is judicial restraint
when they closely follow the law
Judicial Activism
going to do anything I can do unless the law outright prohibits it
Economy
production and consumption of goods and services through exchange
One way the government participates in the economy
through the regulation of business
