Overview
Which Bureaucratic power is the ability to choose courses of action and to make policies not spelled out in advance by laws
Discretionary Power
Government offices to which people are appointed on the grounds of merit can best be described as
the competitive service
Name one of the two government corporations
United State Postal Service
AMTRAK
What does the constitution say about the federal bureaucracy?
It doesn't mention the federal bureaucracy
What event was a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act?
Assassination of James Garfield in 1881
This type of system uses market-like strategies to offer rewards to employees for work
Incentive system
federal employees are prohibited from running for partisan offices because of this act
the Hatch Act
The arm of the US Justice Department that investigates violations of federal law, seeks to protect America from terrorist attacks, gathers crime statistics, runs a comprehensive crime laboratory, and helps train local law enforcement officers.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The ability of Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the War Powers Resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.
Legislative Veto
A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.
Spoils System
Funding that must be authorized by Congress for any federal spending
Appropriations
A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty
Merit System
Cabinet Department created by Congress shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
Department of Homeland Security
List three checks the president has on the federal bureaucracy
Can appoint and fire, executive order, OMB, Signing statement
A law stating, with ten specified exemptions, that 'every portion of every meeting of an agency shall be open to public observation.'
Sunshine Act (1976)
Belief that regulations on business and industry are too numerous and too complex
The federal civil service system was introduced with the passage of what law?
the Pendleton Act
What is red tape and why is it a common criticism of the federal bureaucracy
Red tape is the idea of a lot of paperwork in order to do something because there are a lot of rules and regulations within the federal bureaucracy. It is a common criticism of the bureaucracy because it makes it very hard for anything to to get done.
How is Judicial Review the check the judicial system has on the federal bureaucracy?
It is the judicial branch's ability to examine and determine if the bureaucracy's action is constitutional or not. SCOTUS could determine an action of an agency is illegal and will make them change it
Provides a system for the public to obtain government records, as long as they do not invade individuals' privacy, reveal trade secrets, or endanger military security.
Freedom of Information Act (1966)
How could bureaucrat's discretionary power be checked by the executive branch?
The president can issue signing statements which take away the bureaucrats discretion because he or she tells them how to interpret a law.
What is an alternative to firing people from the federal bureaucracy?
employers can move the employees to lower positions and try to make their lives as difficult as possible so they will want to leave
What is an Iron Triangle?
An iron triangle is the relationship between a congressional committee, interest group, and a governmental agency.
the power to investigate and hold agencies accountable. They have the ability to do this because congress created the agencies and they fund them
Congressional oversight
Law that replaced the Civil Service Commission with the Office of Personnel Management and the Merit Systems Protection Board. These agencies are responsible for enforcing existing civil service laws, coordinating the testing of applicants, setting up pay scales, and appointing people to federal jobs.
Civil Service Reform Act (1978)