A way of organizing large numbers of people who need to work together.
What is bureaucracy?
100
True or false: the bureaucracy is primarily managed by the executive branch, but the legislature and judiciary do have some notable powers.
What is TRUE?
100
The two types of bureaucrats.
What are political appointees and civil servants?
100
True or false: bureaucratic regulations are equivalent to laws.
What is FALSE. Regulations must be obeyed like laws, but they have to be renewed and are subject to change by a new administration.
100
True or false: most presidents avoid trying to reform the bureaucracy because it's too difficult.
What is FALSE?
200
The job of a bureaucrat (on a very basic level).
What is implementation or execution of government policy?
200
The name given to the 15 departments of the executive office.
What is the cabinet?
200
This is the derisive term for patronage.
What is the spoils system?
200
Two reasons why the bureaucracy is difficult to control.
What are size, expertise, civil service laws, clientele, and enabling legislation?
200
A person who exposes corruption or inefficiency.
What is a whistleblower?
300
One of the three identified functions of bureaucracy.
What is promoting public good, protecting the nation, and sustaining a strong economy?
300
An organization within the bureaucracy that must report directly to the president.
What is a line organization?
300
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 imposed rules that required civil servants to be hired based on this.
What is merit?
300
This is often done to increase competition and lower prices.
What is deregulation?
300
The strategy favored by most conservatives in reforming government.
What is privatization?
400
The acquisitive model asserts that bureaucracies have this problem.
What is competition?
400
The type of federal agency that resembles a business and an example.
What is a federal corporation?
FDIC, USPS, Amtrak, TVA
400
One positive and one negative of the civil service system.
Positive: the merit system; separation from politics
Negative: very difficult to fire incompetent civil servant
400
An iron triangle is an alliance of people from these groups: a congressional subcommittee that deals with an issue, the executive agency that enforces laws on the issue, and _______________.
What are private interest groups?
400
Legislation that requires government agencies to hold public meetings on a regular basis.
What are sunshine laws?
500
According to the Weberian model, bureaucracies have this problem.
What is lethargy?
500
The president especially likes these agencies because they give him/her more control over them.
What are independent executive agencies?
500
The reason why the bureaucracy is seen as being undemocratic.
What is appointments as opposed to elections?
500
A group of people who support a specific policy rather than a broader issue.
What is an issue network?
500
These are sometimes used by Congress to ensure that government programs are effective.