AG New Ch. 15 Flash Cards

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Acquisitive Model of Bureaucracy

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A model suggesting that bureaucracies are naturally competitive and power-seeking, aiming to enhance their agency’s status and expand its budget.

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Bureaucracy

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An administrative group of nonelected officials organized to carry out government functions, policies, and programs.

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Cabinet Departments

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Fifteen major executive offices directly accountable to the president, such as the Departments of State, Defense, and Treasury.

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Civil Servant (also “Bureaucrat”)

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A government employee hired on the basis of merit rather than political loyalty, typically in permanent positions.

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Civil Service

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The merit-based sector of government employees, distinct from political appointees, ensuring continuity and expertise.

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Civil Service Commission (CSC)

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Created by the Pendleton Act of 1883 to enforce merit-based hiring and protect civil servants from partisan dismissals.

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Civil Service Reform Act (1978)

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A law that replaced the Civil Service Commission with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

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Competitive Service

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A category of federal employment where positions are strictly regulated by Congress, requiring specific qualifications or exams.

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Division of Labor

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The principle that separates tasks into specialized roles, enhancing efficiency through focused expertise.

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Excepted Service

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A category of federal jobs exempt from competitive service rules, often requiring specialized skills or unique hiring processes.