All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the role of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
Answer: To manage the civil service of the federal government. OPM oversees hiring, benefits, and personnel policies across government.
Flashcard 2: What is rulemaking in the context of federal agencies?
Answer: The process of creating new regulations. Agencies create detailed rules to implement broad congressional statutes.
Flashcard 3: Identify one consequence of lack of accountability in the bureaucracy.
Answer: Inefficiency and corruption. Weak oversight allows waste and abuse to persist unchecked.
Flashcard 4: What is one challenge of bureaucratic accountability?
Answer: Complexity of large agencies. Large bureaucracies are difficult to monitor and coordinate effectively.
Flashcard 5: How does the budget process hold agencies accountable?
Answer: Through funding approval and allocation by Congress. Congressional budget control creates financial accountability for agencies.
Flashcard 6: Which act aims to ensure accountability in federal contracting?
Answer: The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). FAR establishes rules for transparent and fair government contracting.
Flashcard 7: What is the role of congressional committees in oversight?
Answer: Committees conduct hearings and investigations. Committees specialize in overseeing specific agencies and programs.
Flashcard 8: What is one effect of bureaucratic discretion?
Answer: Agencies interpret and implement vague laws. Agencies fill gaps when laws lack specific implementation details.
Flashcard 9: Identify a limitation of congressional oversight.
Answer: Partisan politics can reduce effectiveness. Political motivations can compromise objective oversight of agencies.
Flashcard 10: What is the purpose of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)?
Answer: To protect federal employees from unfair practices. MSPB ensures merit-based personnel decisions in federal employment.
Flashcard 11: Which act protects federal employees who report wrongdoing?
Answer: The Whistleblower Protection Act. Legal safeguards encourage reporting of government misconduct.
Flashcard 12: Define 'red tape' in the context of bureaucracy.
Answer: Excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules. Refers to bureaucratic inefficiency caused by excessive procedures.
Flashcard 13: What is the purpose of congressional hearings?
Answer: To gather information and oversee bureaucratic agencies. Hearings allow Congress to question officials and examine agency performance.
Flashcard 14: Identify a way federal employees can report misconduct within agencies.
Answer: Whistleblower protection. Legal protections encourage employees to report illegal or unethical conduct.
Flashcard 15: What is an inspector general's primary function?
Answer: To investigate and audit government operations to prevent waste and fraud. IGs provide independent oversight within executive agencies.
Flashcard 16: Which body confirms presidential appointments to the bureaucracy?
Answer: The Senate. Senate confirmation provides legislative check on executive appointments.
Flashcard 17: What is the significance of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)?
Answer: It governs the process by which federal agencies develop and issue regulations. APA ensures fair procedures and public participation in rulemaking.
Flashcard 18: Identify one way Congress can influence bureaucratic agencies.
Answer: Adjusting budget allocations. Budget control gives Congress leverage over agency priorities and actions.
Flashcard 19: What role does the President play in holding the bureaucracy accountable?
Answer: Appointing agency heads and issuing executive orders. The President controls agency leadership and directs policy implementation.
Flashcard 20: Identify the act that requires federal agencies to disclose information publicly.
Answer: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). FOIA promotes transparency by requiring disclosure of government records.
Flashcard 21: What is the purpose of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)?
Answer: To audit and evaluate government programs and activities. GAO serves as Congress's investigative arm for oversight.
Flashcard 22: Name a method by which the judiciary can hold the bureaucracy accountable.
Answer: Judicial review. Courts can rule that agency actions violate the Constitution or law.
Flashcard 23: What is the main function of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)?
Answer: To assist the President in preparing the federal budget. OMB helps coordinate federal spending and administrative policies.
Flashcard 24: Which branch of government is responsible for implementing laws?
Answer: The executive branch. The executive branch executes and enforces laws passed by Congress.
Flashcard 25: Identify a tool Congress uses to hold the bureaucracy accountable.
Answer: Hearings and investigations. These allow Congress to gather information and question agency officials.
Flashcard 26: What is congressional oversight?
Answer: The process by which Congress monitors the federal bureaucracy. This ensures Congress can monitor executive agencies' implementation of laws.
Flashcard 27: What is regulatory capture?
Answer: When agencies serve the interests of the industries they regulate. Occurs when regulators become too close to regulated industries.
Flashcard 28: Identify a method for citizens to hold the bureaucracy accountable.
Answer: Public comment on proposed rules. Public input during rulemaking provides democratic accountability.
Flashcard 29: What is the purpose of the Hatch Act?
Answer: To limit political activities of federal employees. Prevents partisan political influence on federal civil servants.
Flashcard 30: What is the role of an ombudsman?
Answer: To investigate complaints against the government. Independent officials who investigate citizen complaints about government.