| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Bureaucracy | A large complex structure that handles everyday business of an organization. Found wherever there are large organizations. |
| Hierarchial authority | How a bureaucracy works. Few, powerful officials on top, lower ones as the pyramid goes down. Not many power struggles because each person is in charge of a certain amount of jobs/ people. |
| Job specialization | How a bureaucracy works. Each person who works for the bureaucracy has a specific job. Efficient because each worker gains special skills for their specific job. |
| Formalized rules | How a buraucracy works. Each organization works under a set group of rules. Settles arguments quickly because there is a specific set of rules and procedures workers can turn to. |
| Bureaucrat | A person who works in a bureaucracy. Unelected public policy makers. |
| Administration | Administrators and agencies in the federal govt. Executive branch has 3 main agencies- President/Executive office, 15 cabinet agencies, and independent agencies. |
| Commission | Agency charged with regulation of business activities. |
| Corperation | Agencies that conduct businesslike activities ie. post office |
| Staff agencies | Serve as support for the executive branch and the Presidet. Includes the White House Office. Chief of staff- directs presidential staff, important advisor. Assistants/ deputy assistants help with other things. Staff also includes aids, press people, etc. |
| Line agency | Agency that preforms tasks for the organization to which it belongs. |
| Executive Office of the President (EOP) | RIght arm of the President. Staffed by closest advisors and most important assistants. |
| National Security Council (NSC) | Chaired by President- Members include VP. Works w/ federal intelligence agencies, foreign affairs, president, etc. Advises president on issues of national security. |
| Office of Management and Budget (OMB) | Main task: preparation of the federal budget. Head appointed by President, confirmed by Senate. |
| Federal budget | Detailed estimate of receipts and expenditures, estimate of federal income/outcome in the next fiscal year. |
| Fiscal year | 12 month period used by govt. for business and financial purposes. Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 |
| Executive departments | Also called Cabinet departments. Units of federal administration, built around a central activity. • Each dept. headed by a secretary, except for Justice- headed by Attorney General. Heads work with President, media to make headway with issues concerning their dept. |
| The Cabinet | Informal advisory body brought together by President. Consists of 15 heads of executive depts. plus other high ranking officials. Cabinet members have two jobs- to be the administrative head of their department and to be an advisor to the president. |
| Independent Agencies | Outside executive departments, made to help Congress. Congress gives some agencies independent status to protect from partisan and pressure policies. |
| Independent Executive Agencies | Most independent agencies are in this category. Organized like Cabinet agencies- head, undersecretaries, different bureaus. |
| Independent Regulatory Committees | Largely beyond presidential control. 10 agencies that work with/ help national economy. Each headed by commission/ committee of 5 to seven members. Terms are so long that they cannot be controlled in 1 presidential term. Mixed parties requried. Have some legislative and judicial powers. |
Combine with other sets
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