AP Gov Chapter 15 Vocab – Flashcards
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Bureaucracy
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A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
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Laissez-faire
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An economic theory that government should not regulate or interfere with commerce
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Discretionary authority
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The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws
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Competitive service
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The government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria
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Name-request job
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A job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified
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Iron triangle
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A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
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Issue network
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A network of people in Washington, D.C. - based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies
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Authorization legislation
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Legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency
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Appropriation
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A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency
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Trust funds
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Funds for government programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget
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Committee clearance
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The ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law
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Legislative veto
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The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power
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Red tape
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Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done
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Administrative agency
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A federal, state, or local government unit established to perform a specific function.
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Cabinet department
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One of the 15 departments of the executive branch (State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Energy, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs)
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Capture
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The act by which an industry being regulated by a government agency gains direct or indirect control over agency personnel and decision makers
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Civil Service Commission
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The initial central personnel agency of the national government, created in 1883
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Enabling legislation
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A statute enacted by Congress that authorizes the creation of an administrative agency and specifies the name, purpose, composition, functions, and powers of the agency being created
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Government corporation
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An agency of government that administers a quasi-business enterprise. These corporations are used when activities are primarily commercial
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Government in the Sunshine Act
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A law that requires all committee-directed federal agencies to conduct their business regularly in public sessions
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Independent executive agency
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A federal agency that is not part of a Cabinet department but reports directly to the president
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Independent regulatory agency
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An agency outside the major executive departments charged with making and implementing rules and regulations
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Line organization
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In the federal government, an administrative unit that is directly accountable to the president
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Merit system
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The selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of competitive examinations
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Pendleton/ Civil Service Reform Act
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An act that established the principle of employment on the basis of merit and created the Civil Service Commission to administer the personnel service
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Privatization
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The replacement of government services with services provided by private firms
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Spoils system
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The awarding of government jobs to political supporters and friends
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Sunset legislation
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Laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and terminated unless specifically extended as a result of those reviews
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Whistleblower
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Someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action
