Government Chapter 9
What do we call our mission or office in the major countries of the world which are located in other countries' capitals?
Embassy
What is the National Security Council and why is it important?
A very important part of the Executive Office because the President relies on the NSC for advice on matters of national security, foreign policy and war.
What is the bureaucracy?
All of the agencies and departments working for the government
What do we call the person who heads the office in the question above?
Ambassador
Who is the head of the White House Office?
Chief of Staff
What are the main responsibilities of the Department of State?
Conducts foreign relations, negotiate treaties and agreements with other countries, issues passports and protect citizens abroad
Which is the largest federal department in terms of employees?
Department of Defense
Which independent regulatory commission is responsible for regulating TV and radio stations?
Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
Which independent regulatory commission is responsible for regulating our money supply, banking and credit in our economy?
Federal Reserve System Board of Governors
Which independent regulatory commission is responsible for enforcing antitrust legislation and prohibiting unfair competition?
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Which agency works with the HHS to protect the safety of our food supply?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
What has happened to the nomination and confirmation process for Cabinet officials over the past decade or so?
Has to be approved by the senate and secretaries and attorneys general become more loyal to their departments than the president over time
Which government agency collects our taxes?
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Name the three administrative agencies mentioned in the textbook and the services they provide?
NASA pioneers the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research, Independent regulatory commissions write rules and regulations and has the power to enforce these with their quasi-judicial powers, and FDA helps keep our food supply is safe
Name the members of the National Security Council.
NSA, Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Defence
Which independent regulatory commission is responsible for overseeing laws dealing with labor unions and collective bargaining?
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Who is the President's closest advisor on matters of national security?
National Security Advisor
Which independent regulatory commission is responsible for regulating our nuclear power plants?
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Who works with the Department of Labor to protect workers health and safety?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
What do we call the headquarters for the Department of Defense?
Pentagon
Who is the President's spokesperson?
Press Secretary
What is the chief responsibility of the Office of Management and Budget?
Responsible for preparing the $3.5 trillion budget for the president to submit to Congress every year
What is the Cabinet and what roles do they serve?
Secretaries and AG that advise the President and head their specific departments
Which independent regulatory commission is responsible for regulating the stock market and investment firms?
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Why do Presidents often complain about civil service?
Since the president doesn't hire and fire these civil servants, they aren't loyal to the president and often don't follow the will of the president
What do we call the highest ranking military officer in the United States?
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
List five offices within the Executive Office of the President:
The White House Office, Chief of Staff, Press Secretary, White House Counsel, and National Security Advisor
What were the original first four cabinet secretary positions under George Washington?
Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph
Name the three federal corporations mentioned in the Chapter and the service they provide?
USPS delivers mail and provides other services related to postal delivery, FDIC insures bank deposits, and TVA provides electricity, flood control and economic development to rural Appalachia
Is the bureaucracy hierarchical in nature?
Yes, power starts with president and flows down
What is the iron triangle?
a three-sided relationship between the industry being regulated the regulators, and the congressional committees making the regulations
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Housing and Urban Development?
addresses the increased decay of our cities and the lack of affordable decent housing
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services?
administers Medicare and Medicaid and conducts health studies and research on diseases and epidemics
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Treasury?
collect taxes and help influence the economy
What is the dissident triangle?
congressmen/women, news reporters and whistleblowers who gain a reputation from exposing this corruption
What is the role of the Department of Homeland Security and which agencies were brought under its control?
coordinates all intelligence and law enforcement agencies to thwart terrorist attacks against the U.S. and to assist in natural disasters within our borders, FBI, CIA, INS, FEMA
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Commerce?
fixes standards of weight and measures, promotes trade and gathers statistics on economic growth by measuring the Gross Domestic Product
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Energy?
helps promote the development of alternative sources of energy and is responsible for overseeing nuclear power and the disposal of nuclear waste
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs?
helps veterans by providing benefits and services such as health and other assistance
What is the difference between an independent agency and an independent regulatory commission?
independent agencies conduct investigations and audits to ensure that industries and organizations do not pose threats to public safety or well-being, while independent regulatory commissions are situated in the executive branch of government but are not directly under the control of the president
Why is there some controversy over the Department of Education?
many conservatives feel that education is a state issue and the federal government should stay out of it
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Labor?
occupational safety, gathering unemployment and inflation statistics, wage and hour standards, and retraining unemployed worked
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Transportation?
promotes airport security, improves our roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Education?
promotes education throughout the United States and help develop standards to measure improvement in education
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Interior?
protect public lands and national parks, along with water resources
What are the chief responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture?
researches agricultural issues and help farmers whole encouraging an ample safe food supply
What is the White House Office?
responsible for coordinating the President's schedule and advising him on important issues of the day
What is meant by the interlocking directorate of the iron triangle?
the experts on the committees in Congress, the bureaucrats responsible for regulating the industry, and the industry leaders all come from the same pool of individuals trained by the industry
What is the difference between the spoils system and the merit system (civil service)?
the merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their abilities to perform a job, rather than on their political connections
What caused the passage of the Pendleton Act?
the spoils system
