Political Science Ch 13

Which of the following is a key characteristic of an ideal bureaucracy? A. There is a clear chain of command and a set of formal rules to guide behavior. B. They are structured like a decentralized network with no clear authority to answer to. C. They are generally small with few people D. The are inefficient

A

Which of the following statements about the relationship between Congress and the bureaucracy is most accurate? A. Congress retains control over the federal bureaucracy but delegates much lawmaking power B. The president maintains complete control over the federal bureaucracy, because it is all part of the executive branch C. Congress is only responsible for the maintenance of the agency

A

Agencies

A general name used for a subunit of a cabinet department

Cost-benefit analysis

A method of evaluating rules and regulations by weighing their potential costs against their potential benefits to society

What is a whistle-blower?

A person who reports corruption or abuses of power

Bureaucrats

A person who works in a bureaucratic organization

What is patronage in the context of the bureaucracy?

A system of appointment based on loyalty to the president's party

Government Corporations

A unit in the executive branch that operates like a private business but provides some public service

Independent Executive Agencies

A unit of the executive branch outside the control of executive departments

The federal bureaucracy's ability to conduct quasi-judicial hearings to resolve disputes is known as _____________.

Adjudicating

Independent Regulatory Commissions

An entity in the executive branch that is outside the immediate control of the president and Congress that issues rules and regulations to protect the public

Foundations

An entity of the executive branch that supports the arts or sciences and is designed to be somewhat insulated from political interference

Quasi-governmental organizations

An organization that has governmental powers and responsibilities but has substantial private sector control over its activities

A(n) _________________ bill is needed for an agency to be able to legally spend money from the U.S. Treasury.

Appropriation

Presidents have a number of ways to encourage bureaucratic compliance which of the following is not among them? A. The president cam recommend to Congress what the budget of a particular agency should be B. The president can use his or her popularity C. The president can hire and fire all noncomplying bureaucrats D. The president can appoint the top administrative posts of an agency

B

Which of the following best describes what bureaucrats do? A. They create their own goals and missions and set the rules on how to achieve those goals and missions B. They exercise great discretion in the implementation of laws, often writing specific rules and creating policy C. They are important and act as the king

B

Why are presidents often frustrated with the bureaucracy?

Because the bureaucracy is so large and complex that it is hard to get all agencies to obey presidential directives

Subdivisions within departments are called _________________.

Bureaus and Agencies

Congress has a number of ways to encourage bureaucratic compliance. Which of the following is not among them? A. Congress can change policy and the agency's mission B. The Senate can choose not to confirm presidential appointments C. Congress can appoint its own agency heads, overruling a presidential appointment by a two-thirds vote of the Senate D. Congress controls the agencies' budgets

C

The president has the power to bypass the Senate to fill executive branch positions when ____________.

Congress officially adjourns

Unitary executive

Constitutional doctrine that proposes that the executive branch is under the direct control of the president, who has all authority necessary to control the actions of federal bureaucracy personnel and units without interference from the other federal branches

The federal bureaucracy is associated with which branch or branches of government? A. Judicial B. Executive and judicial C. Legislative D. Executive

D

Civil service

Federal government jobs held by civilian employees, excluding political appointees

Departments

Generally the largest units in the executive branch, each headed by a cabinet secretary

Bureaus

Generally, a subunit of a cabinet department

Civil servants

Government workers employed under the merit system' not political appointees

Unlike most bureaucracies in other democracies, the American federal bureaucracy ________________.

Has two bosses: the president and Congress

The most recent executive branch department to be created is the Department of __________________.

Homeland Security

What is the key difference between an independent regulatory commission and an independent executive agency?

Independent regulatory commissions are protected against direct presidential or congressional control while independent executive agencies have to report directly to the president

Appropriation

Legal authority for a federal agency to spend money from the U.S. Treasury

What is a solution to excessive red tape and is the motivation behind "reinventing government"?

Making government more businesslike

Red-tape

Overbearing bureaucratic rules and procedures

Whistle-blowers

People who bring official misconduct in their agencies to public attention

The highest policy making positions in the federal bureaucracy enter the government service by ______________.

Political appointment

Cabinet-level secretaries are appointed by the __________ and approved by the ______________.

President; Senate

Recess appointments

Presidential action to temporarily fill executive branch positions without the consent of the Senate; done when Congress is adjourned

What term is used for turning over certain government functions to the private sector?

Privatizing

The Federal Reserve Board is an example of a(n) ________________________.

Quasi-governmental organization

From the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 until the late nineteenth century, the executive branch was staffed through what is commonly called the ____________.

Spoils system

What was the catalyst for changing the spoils system to a merit-based system?

The assassination of President James Garfield

Spoils systems

The practice of distributing government offices and contracts to the supporters of the winning party, also called patronage

Patronage

The practice of distributing government offices and contracts to the supporters of the winning party; also called the spoils system

What is the purpose of inspectors general?

The report to Congress about whether or not an agency is wasteful or abusing power.

Federal Bureaucracy

The totality of the departments and agencies of the executive branch of the national government

Privatization

Turning over certain government functions to the private sector

What is true about the number of federal and state/local government employees is true?

While the number of federal employees has declined, the number of state and local government employees has risen