XIV - Federal Bureaucracy

Question 1

Government bureauracry

Answer 1

Organization of non-elected gov’t officials who fulfill the functions of their particular agency

Question 2

Job of bureaucracy

Answer 2

Carry out responsibilities of federal government

Question 3

Examples of bureacracy

Answer 3

Postal service
Federal meat inspectors
Department of Veteran Affairs

Question 4

How does bureaucracy carry out the responsibilities?

Answer 4

Implement laws passed by Congress/ EO of President
Develop/enforce rules & regulations
Administer gov’t programs

Question 5

Objective performed by

Answer 5

Agencies
Commissions
Departments
Gov’t corporations

Question 6

Myth: Americans dislike bureaucrats

Answer 6

Citizens & elected officials dislike “faceless” bureaucracies
Majority of citizens report favorable interactions

Question 7

Myth: Bureaucrats are increaisng

Answer 7

Federal is shrinking

State & local have grown

Question 8

Myth: Bureaucrats work in D.C.

Answer 8

Most work at state/local level

Question 9

Two distinction in civil servants

Answer 9

Patronage

Merit

Question 10

Patronage

Answer 10

System in which hiring and promotions are based upon political factors

Question 11

Merit

Answer 11

System in which hiring & promotions are based on skill & talent

Question 12

In the pass, patronage system

Answer 12

was prominent

“spoils system”

Question 13

Civil Service System

Answer 13

Pass exam(s) and promotions are based upon merit/ performance

Question 14

Pendleton Act (1883)

Answer 14

Created federal civil service

Question 15

Hatch Act (1939)

Answer 15

Prohibits civil servants from engaging in political activities

Question 16

Merit based professional civil service help

Answer 16

Effectiveness of bureaucracy by promoting professionalism, specialization, and neutrality

Question 17

Political appointees

Answer 17

Newly elected presidents fill thousands of executive positions

Question 18

Civil servants

Answer 18

Relatively protected from being fired for political reasons

Last longer than political appointees/ elected officials

Question 19

Types of bureaucratic federal agencies

Answer 19

Cabinet Departments
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Gov’t Corporations
Independent Executive Agencies

Question 20

Cabinet Departments

Answer 20

15 different types
Secretary appointed by President/ confirmed by Senate
Bureaus within department

Question 21

Cabinet Departments examples

Answer 21

State
Treasury
Defense
Justice

Question 22

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Answer 22

Make & enforce the rules in public interest
Serves fixed terms
Can’t be fired easily by President
Alphabet soup of gov’t agencies

Question 23

Independent Regulatory Commissions examples

Answer 23

Federal Communications Commission

Securities and Exchange Commission

Question 24

Government Corporations

Answer 24

Provide services to citizens that could be dealt with by the private sector

Question 25

Government Corporations examples

Answer 25

TVA: electricity to rural areas | US Postal Service

Question 26

Independent Executive Agencies

Answer 26

Any agency that is not one of the above

Question 27

Independent Executive Agencies examples

Answer 27

EPA NASA CIA

Question 28

The bureaucracy implement policies by

Answer 28

working out details of newly passed laws

Question 29

How does bureaucracy implement policies?

Answer 29

Creating new agency/ assign responsibility to existing agency Develop rules/ guidelines Coordinate resources to ensure successful implementation

Question 30

Discretionary authority

Answer 30

Ability of an agency to choose a course of action and set policies

Question 31

Implementation can be difficult

Answer 31

``` Lack of clarity Lack of resources (funding, personnel) Lack of authority Standard operating procedures Fragmentation ```

Question 32

Discretionary & rule-making authority to implement policy are given to

Answer 32

``` Homeland Security Transportation Veterans Affairs Education EPA Federal Elections Commission Securities and Exchange Commission ```

Question 33

Privatization

Answer 33

Move towards reinventing gov't began in 1980's | More jobs previously done by public employees transferred to private sector

Question 34

Decentralize authority trhough devolution

Answer 34

Power shifting from federal to states

Question 35

Regulation

Answer 35

One of most important/ controversial roles of bureaucracies

Question 36

US has a "free enterprise" system but

Answer 36

it is regulated

Question 37

Interstate Commerce Commission (1887)

Answer 37

Fed. regulation of railroad services

Question 38

Over the years, there has been

Answer 38

Tremendous growth of regulations | Enforcement largely dependent on bureaucratic discretion

Question 39

Criticisms on regulations

Answer 39

Overly complicated Increased prices Hurt American competition

Question 40

Deregulation & weak enforcement of regulations

Answer 40

Has created problems Env'tal pollution Economic collapse in housing & financial industries

Question 41

How can President control bureaucracy?

Answer 41

Appoint agency heads who share their policy ideas/ ideology Issue Executive Orders Budget Reorganizing agency

Question 42

How can Congress control the bureaucracy?

Answer 42

Confirm/Reject agency head nomination Budget (power of the purse) Hold oversight committee hearings Create more detailed legislation

Question 43

How can the federal courts hold the bureaucracy accountable?

Answer 43

Can rule a law or executive order unconstitutional

Question 44

Iron triangle

Answer 44

Relationship between regulated industry's interest group, the regulating agency, and committees in Congress that make policy in that area

Question 45

Iron triangle example in agirculture

Answer 45

Interest groups representing farmers & agribusiness Federal Department of Agriculture House/ Senate agriculture committees

Question 46

Issue network

Answer 46

Consist of informal group of interest groups, congressional staff, media, think tanks, and various others who are drawn to an issue and try to shape gov't policy

Question 47

Importance of issue networks

Answer 47

Increase participation in bureaucracy policy | Hope to create change in bureaucracy

Question 48

Issue network example in environmental policy

Answer 48

``` EPA Department o Commerce Department of Interior Department of Agriculture Commerce committee Science & tech committee Public welfare committee Chambers of Commerce Sierra Club National Resource Defense Council ```

Question 49

Unelected policy-making institutions

Answer 49

Courts | Bureaucracy

Question 50

Should the bureaucracy be cut?

Answer 50

Wide variety of social & economic problems we look toward bureaucracy to solve