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Bureaucracy, Budget, Policy
Terms for Ms Elliott's/SLz's 1st block AP Gov Class
36
Political Studies
12th Grade
04/13/2008

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Term
Bureaucracy
Definition
a large, complex administrative structure. Such structures exist in organizations such as governments and businesses. The executive branch of the federal government has a complex bureaucracy, with a hierarchy of bureaus and agencies.
 
The federal bureaucracy is a common source of frustration for many Americans.  It is a large, complex and hierarchical institution.  The numerous sub-cabinet departments is one example.
Term
Independent Regulatory Agency
Definition
An independent regulatory agency is a public authority with independence from other bodies in any other branches of the government.
 
Independent Regulatory Agencies are created by the government to help monitor political, economic and social situations.  The Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Reserve are two examples.  Both help to regulate aspects of the economy.
Term
Independent Executive Agency
Definition

The Independent Executive Agency is a part of the Executive Branch, but is not included in any Executive department. The head of the agency, appointed by the President, serves at the pleasure of the president. Examples are NASA and the CIA.

Term
Executive Office of the President (EOP)
Definition
name for the group of agencies, councils, and staff members which advise the president and help run the federal bureaucracy. The EOP was established by an executive order from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1939, and the number and type of agencies included is determined by each president.
Term
Cabinet
Definition
board of advisors to the President, composed of the heads of the executive Cabinet departments and any other officials whom the President chooses.
Term
Bureaucratic Accountability (checks on bureaucracy)
Definition
Bureaucractic accountability is the balance on the bureaucracy by the government and the other bureaucracies in different branches.
Term
Hatch Act
Definition
The purpose of the law was to calm fears that federal civil service employees might be able to wield extraordinary influence on the election of the President and members of Congress. As a result of the Hatch Act, federal employees may vote, but may not take an active part in partisan politics.
Term
Office of Personnel Management
Definition
The Office of Personnel Management (or OPM) is an Independent Agency of the United States Government that manages the civil service of the federal government. It is one of the principle agencies in the Executive Office.
Term
Merit System
Definition
The merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections
Term
Spoils System
Definition
the system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power
Term
Government Corporation
Definition
legal entity created by a government to exercise some of the powers of the government
Term
Privatization
Definition
The conversion of a government-owned enterprise to private ownership.
 
Some conservatives wish to privatize social security and put into the stock market or private corporations.  Some liberals argue that that puts social security at too much risk and people will end up with less benefits.
Term
Reinventing Government
Definition
Vice President Gore set out to create a government that “works better, costs less, and gets results Americans care about.”   Strategically, the Vice President chose to focus efforts on how the government works, not on what it should be doing. In addition, he chose to target overhead costs, not the traditional approach of reorganizing existing agencies.  The result was government reform and minimizing the "red tape" of a bureaucracy.
 
The result was government reform and minimizing the "red tape" of a bureaucracy.  The government reform was aimed at minimizing the complexity of rules and procedures of the bureaucracy, thus making the federal government more efficient.
Term
Seven step policy-making
Definition
The process of making policy.  The steps are Problem Recognition and Definition, Agenda Setting, Policy Formulation, Policy Adoption, Budgeting, Policy Implementation, Policy Evaluation.
Term
Monetary Policy (include when and how its used)
Definition
government policies which try to influence the economy by changing the amount of money circulating in the economy (money supply) and the interest rate (rate at which people, companies, or the government can borrow money).
Term
Federal Reserve
Definition
Central bank of the United States and major regulatory agency for many commercial banks.
Term
Chair of the Federal Reserve
Definition
The head of the Federal Reserve, or the central bank.  He or she is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Term
Keynesian Economics
Definition
An economic theory stating that active government intervention in the marketplace and monetary policy is the best method of ensuring economic growth and stability.
Term
Revenue
Definition
The total income a business firm or government receives from all sources.
Term
Expenditure
Definition
The disbursement of appropriated funds to purchase goods or services.
Term
Deficit and Debt
Definition
A budget deficit occurs when an entity (often a government) spends more money than it takes in.  Debt is that which is owed
Term
Fiscal Policy (include when and how its used)
Definition
Government policy regarding taxation and spending. Fiscal policy is made by Congress and the Administration.
Term
Budgetary Process
Definition
The budgetary process is the normal approval process that allows the government to spend the money it collects
Term
Office of Management and Budget
Definition
The executive agency that advises the President on the Federal budget. OMB helps the President formulate his spending plans; evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures; assesses competing funding demands among agencies, and sets funding priorities.
Term
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Definition
The Congressional Budget Office was created by Congress to provide non-partisan analysis for economic and budgetary decisions.
Term
Regulation and Deregulation
Definition
Regulation is the government function of controlling or directing economic entities through the process of rulemaking and adjudication.  Deregulation is the removal of government restrictions concerning the conduct of a business.
Term
Social Policy (in general, at least two examples in depth - especially current)
Definition
Social policy relates to guidelines for the changing, maintenance or creation of living conditions that are conducive to human welfare.
Term
Majoritarian Social Welfare Policy and Politics
Definition
The idea that we all give something up [usually money] for something we all get in return.
Term
Client-Based Social Welfare Policy and Politics
Definition
The idea that we all give something up [usually money], but only some people who meet certain requirements gain.
Term
21st Century Foreign Policy (in general, plus at least two examples in depth)
Definition
The shift in foreign policy for America to be more involved and interventionist.
Term
Executive Branch and Foreign Policy (Who is involved and who else has influnce)
Definition
The President is the commander in chief of the military.  The executive branch has many influencial foreign policy-makers.
Term
Majoritarian Foreign Policy and Politics
Definition
The idea that we all benefit from having a strong military.
Term
Client-Based Foreign Policy and Politics
Definition
The idea that only a select few benefit from our current foreign policy.
Term
United Nations
Definition
Established in 1945, the United Nations is tasked with maintaining peace and stability in the world through cooperation among its member countries
Term
UN Security Council
Definition
The part of the UN charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
 
establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions regimes, and the authorization for military action.[1] Its powers are exercised through United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Term
National Interests
Definition
National interests are the reasons that a country might intervene with another foreign nation.  They are: defense, economic prosperity, favorable world order and promoting ideology.
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