Political scienceLesson 5 of 5 in the course Executives, Cabinets, and Bureaucracies

Bureaucracies: Organization, Civil Service, Policy Networks, and Rulemaking

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The word bureaucracy literally means “rule by desks.” A bureaucracy is a hierarchical institution organized to formulate, enact, and enforce public policy. Its employees deliver services and apply government rules across many areas of public life.

Bureaucracies have sometimes been portrayed as slow, impersonal, and burdened by “red tape.” Those criticisms can reflect real frustrations, such as waiting for an application or license to be processed. But bureaucracy also enables governments to handle complex tasks consistently and at a large scale. Without specialized staff and established procedures, public services could be unpredictable, unequal, or difficult to coordinate.

All flashcards

Bureaucracy
A hierarchical government institution that organizes work to formulate, enact, and enforce public policy and deliver services.
Neutral competence
Expert government work guided by objective standards rather than personal or political loyalties.
Iron triangle
A stable, relatively closed relationship among a government agency, a legislative committee, and an interest group.
Issue network
A relatively open, often temporary group of participants who engage with a policy issue.
Rulemaking
The process through which an administrative agency develops regulations that add detail to legislation.

Quiz questions

  1. What did the Pendleton Act of 1883 establish in the United States?Answer: A federal civil service system emphasizing merit-based hiring.
  2. Which set of participants forms an iron triangle?Answer: A government agency, a legislative committee, and an interest group.
  3. What must an agency do with significant comments on a proposed federal rule?Answer: Consider them and respond, without having to adopt every suggestion.
  4. What is the Federal Register's role in federal rulemaking?Answer: It publishes proposed federal rules and information about submitting comments.
  5. Which description best distinguishes issue networks from iron triangles?Answer: Issue networks are generally more open and often temporary.

Based on Introduction to Political Science by Mark Carl Rom, Masaki Hidaka, Rachel Bzostek Walker (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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