Bureaucracy Basics
This term refers to the system of agencies that carry out federal laws.
What is the bureaucracy?
These federal departments handle broad national areas such as Defense and Education.
What are Cabinet Departments?
This is when agencies decide how a broad law should be carried out.
What is administrative discretion?
This three-part relationship links an agency, committee, and interest group.
What is an iron triangle?
This leader appoints agency heads and uses executive orders to guide agencies.
Who is the president?
These workers make up most of the bureaucracy and develop expertise over time.
Who are civil servants?
These specialized agencies include NASA and the EPA.
What are Independent Executive Agencies?
This process requires agencies to let the public comment before a rule becomes final.
What is notice and comment?
This more modern, flexible group of experts and advocates influences policy.
What is an issue network?
This branch holds hearings and controls agency funding.
What is Congress?
This branch of government passes the laws that agencies must carry out.
What is Congress?
These provide public services and charge fees, including Amtrak and USPS.
What are Government Corporations?
These written rules explain how a law will be enforced.
What are regulations?
These groups lobby agencies and committees within iron triangles.
What are interest groups?
This type of review allows courts to strike down illegal regulations.
What is judicial review?
This term describes the goals the government tries to achieve through laws and agency actions.
What is policy?
These commissions make and enforce rules for the economy, such as the FCC and SEC.
What are Independent Regulatory Commissions?
This process is when agencies settle disputes like a small court.
What is adjudication?
These congressional groups influence policy by working with agencies.
What are congressional committees?
This tool lets the president direct how agencies should operate.
What is an executive order?
The bureaucracy is a system made out of?
What are departments, agencies, and commissions?
This term refers to rules created by agencies that have the same power as law.
What are regulations?
Congress often leaves these broad directions for agencies to interpret.
What are statutes?
These networks rely on experts who help shape major decisions.
Who are policy experts or advocates?
This branch checks agencies by ruling on whether actions follow the law.
What is the courts?