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Chapter 13 Vocab
AP Government - Chapter 13 Vocabulary
Chapter 13 Terms | Definitions |
---|---|
Bureaucracy | A large complex organization composed of appointed officials. The department and agencies of the U.S. government make up the federal bureaucracy. |
Spoils System | Another phrase for political patronage, that is the practice of giving the fruits of a party's victory, such as jobs and contracts, to the loyal members of that party. |
Laissez-faire | An economic theory that government should not regulate or interfere with commerce. |
Discretionary authority | The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advace by laws. |
Competitive Service | The government offices to which people are appointed on the grounds of merit as ascertained by a written examination or by having met certain selection criteria. |
Name request Job | A job to be filled by a person whom a government agency has identified by name. |
Iron Triangle | A close relationship between any agency, a congressional committee and an interest group, that often becomes a mutually advantageous alliance. |
Issue Network | A network of people in Washington-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tankes, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies. |
Authorization legislation | Legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency. An authorization bill may grant permission to spend a certain sum of money, but that money does not ordinarily become available, unless it is appropriated. |
Appropriation | A legislative grant of money to finance a government program. |
Trust Funds | Funds for government programs that are collected and spent ouside the regular government budget; the amounts are determined by preexisting law rather than by annual appropriations. |
Committee Clearance | The ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law. Such approval is not legally binding on the agency, but few agency heads will ignore the expressed wishes of committees. |
Legislative Veto | The rejection of a presidential or administrative agency action by a vote of one or both houses of Congress without the consent of the president. Unconstitutional |
Red Tape | Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done. |