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Unit 2 Column 3

Terms in this set (40)

Departments of Cabinet
A group of presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one. Today it is composed of 14 secretaries and the attorney general.
Agencies
a unit of the executive branch regulating a certain area
commission
an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people.
government corporation
a business owned and operated by the federal government
Regulations/Rules
1. Operate with a large grant of power from Congress
2. Must first develop guidelines
3.Apply and enforce rules
Iron Triangle
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
issue network
Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.
Patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
Spoils System
A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.
political machine
a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes
civil service system
the merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected
merit system
hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications
Pendleton Act of 1883
Created the Civil Service Commission to ensure that hiring of federal employees was based on examinations and merit rather than political patronage.
Hatch Act (1939)
Limits political activities of civil service employees
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.
discretionary authority
The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws.
rule making
a quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act
red tape
complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done
Bureaucratic implementation
Agencies carry out the laws passed by congress
Department of State
foreign policy and international relations
Department of the Treasury
Collects, borrows, spends, and prints money
Department of Defense
Cabinet-level agency in charge of the armed forces and military policy.
Federal Election Commission
a six-member bipartisan agency that enforces and administers campaign finance laws
Securities and Exchange Commission
monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds
Amtrak
a company that operates a railroad system with combined passenger and rail service throughout the continental United States
U. S. Postal Service
Mail
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Security Council
An office created in 1947 to coordinate the president's foreign and military policy advisers
Office of management and budget
An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations
White House chief of staff
Closest presidential advisor does not require senate confirmation
White House Press Secretary
Member of White House staff that controls flow of information from president, holds daily press briefings, tries to spin/control media
Congressional Oversight
Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation
Committee hearings
sessions where a committee listens to the testimonies of people who are interested in the bill
Power of the Purse
Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money
Congressional appropriations
Spending money
Congressional authorization
The power of Congress to provide the president with the right to carry out legislated policies.
Compliance Monitoring
Activities undertaken to establish whether a process or procedure is carried out in conformance with relevant external requirements, whether set through legislation, regulations, or directions
War Powers Act of 1973
Gave any president the power to go to war under certain circumstances, but required that he could only do so for 90 days before being required to officially bring the matter before Congress.
Imperial Presidency
President is seen as emperor taking strong actions without consulting Congress or seeking its approval
Environmental Protection Agency
an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
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