Chapter 14: The Bureaucracy

Which government entity is the federal bureaucracy most closely associated with?

Executive Branch

The Framers wanted to make sure the president followed the intent of Congress, but they gave the office of the president wide discretion in how to carry out laws. Given this information, what was the primary purpose of Article II, Section 3 in the United States Constitution?

"to take care that the laws be faithfully executed"

Which federal organization issues regulations and creates policy like reducing waste and chemical risks, protecting water supplies, and limiting emissions from power plants?

Environmental Protection Agency

Which of the following is an example of an independent agency?

Environmental Protection Agency

Which section of the Constitution gave the president the power of appointment and helped lay the foundations of the modern bureaucracy?

Article ii

What is the group of the president's key advisers responsible for carrying out federal policies for areas under their jurisdictions called?

Cabinet

Who exercises power of the purse to keep the bureaucracy accountable and responsive?

Congress

What is the relationship between bureaucracy and democracy?

Democracy allows citizens to demand responsiveness from bureaucracy.

In 1966, which act established a procedure by which ordinary citizens could directly request non-classified reports from the federal government for a nominal fee?

Freedom of Information

Which act was created in response to the mistrust of the federal government that grew out of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal?

Government in the Sunshine

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 prompted the creation of which department?

Homeland Security

What is the primary disadvantage to the hierarchical decision making in the federal bureaucracy?

It can present an obstacle to speedy decision making.

What is the formal summary that federal agencies offer to the general public called?

Mission

Which department or agency is responsible for promoting road safety by trying to limit drunk driving?

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 led to the creation of which agency?

Office of Personnel Management

In the early days of government, civil service jobs were given to those who pledged their loyalty to the president. What was this early system called?

Patronage

President Chester A. Arthur approved a law that helped slowly change the federal bureaucracy from a corrupt, partisan organization to a neutral, policy-based organization. What was the Act called?

Pendleton Act

What are federal employees who have connections to politically powerful people, who have participated in other presidential administrations, and/or who carry out the president's political and partisan agenda called?

Political Appointees

What was the layer of federal employees President Eisenhower appointed to oversee civil service employees?

Schedule C Appointees

Who is ultimately responsible for the policy decisions that come out of a federal department?

Secretary

What were the first three departments created by Congress in 1789?

State, Treasury, and War

Which office has final authority over the federal budget?

The Office of Management and Budget

What is the congressional power of authorization and appropriation?

The power to evaluate agencies and withhold funds

Why was the Department of the Interior established?

To regulate the sale of federal lands and the management of Indian affairs

What is the term for an employee who reports mismanagement, corruption, or illegal activity within their federal government agency?

Whistleblower