Definitions
Define Bureaucracy
A form of work organization
Refers to a body of non-elected government officials, understood as an administrative system used by corporations and public institutions.
What is the FDA/what do they do
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
Who is at the top of a bureaucracy?
The president
List 3 examples of bureaucratic jobs (related to local, state, or federal government)
Teachers, tax collectors, police officers, firefighters, military personnel, inspectors
What is judicial review?
Judicial review is a process under which an administrative actions are subject to review by the judiciary to constitutional or unconstitutional
Define whistleblowing
Individuals within the bureaucracy who expose misconduct or corruption
What is the Department of Homeland Security, and what major event led to its creation?
Created post-9/11, U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security
What is Red Tape in the context of bureaucracy?
Official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction (ex. filling out a million forms to be approved to get your license)
What branch of the government does all federal bureaucracy fall under?
Executive
Who is the Chief Executive of the United States?
Define Judicial oversight
Bureaucratic decisions subject to judicial review, ensuring that agencies act within the bounds of the law
How did Marbury v. Madison affect bureaucracy?
Marbury v. Madison strengthened the federal judiciary by establishing for it the power of judicial review
Who is Max Weber?
Known as the father of bureaucracy
What is the bureaucratic role of the Social Security Administration?
Bureaucrats at the Social Security Administration ensure that millions of Americans receive their retirement benefits, illustrating their crucial role in citizens' lives.
What is oversight in the context of bureaucracy?
The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies
Principal-agent problem
Occurs in government when officials have incentives to act in their own interests rather than as agents for the people, who are the principals.
What is the US Freedom of Information Act?
Gives any person the right to request access to records of the Executive Branch of the United States Government
Who is Edward Snowden?
Whistleblower who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013 when he was an employee and subcontractor
How did Abraham Lincoln highlight the role of bureaucracy in a time of crisis?
During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln exercised his executive power as Commander-in-Chief to mobilize troops and preserve the Union, highlighting the role of bureaucracy in times of crisis
What is privatization?
The process by which a formerly public service becomes a service provided by a private company but paid for by the government
What is Private Contracting and Privatization in the context of bureaucracy?
Streamlining government functions, reducing the number of government employees
What was the West Virginia v. EPA case?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lacks authority under the Clean Air Act to impose emissions gaps by shifting electricity production from higher-emitting to lower-emitting producers
Limited the scope of the agency’s regulatory powers with broader implications for all federal rulemaking on climate.
Who is Chelsea Manning?
U.S. Army intelligence analyst who provided the Web site WikiLeaks with hundreds of thousands of classified documents in what was believed to be the largest unauthorized release of state secrets in U.S. history
What is "fire alarm" oversight?
Episodic, as-needed congressional hearings on bureaucracy agency operations, usually promoted by media attention and advocacy groups
What is regulatory capture?
A form of government failure in which regulatory agencies become too sympathetic of the interests or businesses they are supposed to regulate