Bureaucracy
And administrative system staffed largely by non-elected officials who preform specific tasks in accordance with standard procedures; much of this work involves the implementation and oversight of government departments and programs, including the executi
Bureaucrat
A civil servant dedicated to the details of administrative procedure
Delegation
The act of committing, or entrusting, a task or power to another
Civil service
The civilian employees who carry out the administrative tasks of the government
Pendleton Act
Established the quality, or merit, of ones work as the new standard for hiring and promoting civil employees
Chief of staff
The member of the presidents staff who advises the president on the key issues of politics, policy, and management; selects key people for the White House staff; controls and manages staff members, their work, and the information and paperwork that reach
Press secretary
The official in the White House who channels information, represents constitutes, and aids in administration and communication planning
Cabinet
Offices of the executive branch developed to assist the president and his constitutional duties and to meet the demands of America's greatest; currently consists of 15 departments
Statutory law
Law that has been passed by the legislature and signed by the president
Administrative law
Regulations that have the force of law and are drawn up by government bureaucracy to implement congressional statutes
Clients
Members of groups whose needs are served by government agencies
Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Clearly defined procedures that bureaucracies operate with
Fourth branch
Term applied to the federal bureaucracy because of the bureaucracy's power and pervasiveness
Oversight
The process by which Congress examines a government department's compliance with the law and scrutinizes its budget requests
Appropriations
Grants of money allotted (budgeted) by Congress to finance government programs
Government accountability office (GAO)
Congressional office that is authorized to audit an agency's finances, monitor its activities, and request public hearings about its programs
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
An act of Congress that gives individual citizens and the media the right to access and examine previously withheld government files and information
Sunshine act
A congressional act requiring federal agencies to hold well-announced public hearings and allowing citizens access to agency officials and a stronger voice in bureaucratic proceedings
Waste
Bureaucratic mismanagement of money, time, and personnel
Red tape
Bureaucratic paperwork
Bureaucratese
The vague, sprawling language and wordy jargon used in bureaucratic regulations and documents
Foreign policy
The principles and activities (including diplomacy, trade relations, and war) that constitute a nation's plan for achieving its objectives and its interaction with other nations
Alliance
Treaty that unites its participant nations in a common cause; usually military in nature
Marshall plan
The US response to European devastation after World War II; supplied billions of dollars to western Europe to rebuild shattered economies and bolster democracy
Isolationism
The basic US foreign policy from 1790 to 1890, whereby the United States sought to be tied to no other nations
Monroe doctrine
An 1823 foreign policy statement by James Monroe that said that the United States will not tolerate interference in the western hemisphere by European powers
Cold war
The period Between the end of World War II and the fall of the Soviet union, during which the United States and the Communist bloc countries coexisted and competed without actually waiting war against one other
Nuclear deterrence
The US foreign-policy from 1940 to 1991 that sought to discourage Soviet aggression by building a nuclear arsenal so large that Soviets faced massive retaliation if they attacked the United States or its allies
Mutually assured destruction (MAD)
Cold War policy whereby the United States in the Soviet Union turned each other with nuclear retaliation if one nation waged a nuclear attack against the other
National security council (NSC)
And agency within the executive office that serves the president by gathering intelligence, formulating policy, and conducting crisis management and areas affecting national security
National security advisor
The director of the national Security Council; advises the president on matters of national security
Secretary of state
The head of the department of state
Foreign service
Employees of the US state department who serve overseas to maintain diplomatic relations and serve the diplomatic needs of US citizens overseas
Embassies
Government offices or residences headed by an ambassador and located in a foreign capital
Ambassadors
The head of an embassy and the president's personal representative to a host country
Consulates
Also called a consular office; a government office established abroad to encourage commercial contact between the represented Country and the host nation
State department
The cabinet level department responsible for advising the president on foreign-policy; representing the United States in foreign policy negotiations; issuing passports, visas, and travel warnings to US citizens; and giving information when emergencies occ
Defense department
Formally known as the department of war; the cabinet department responsible for providing for the defense of the nation
Secretary of defense
The head of the department of defense
Passport
And official document that identifies a traveler and confirms his citizenship; in the United States, it is issued by the state department
Visa
And official endorsement of a passport by the government of the country being visited
Pentagon
The headquarters of the Defense Department and all the US military branches
Joint Chiefs of staff (JCS)
A group made up of the highest ranking officer from each branch of the US military; these officers help the secretary of defense and his civilian undersecretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force shape national defense policy
Department of homeland security
The cabinet level department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks; tasked with preventing further terrorism against United States, reducing vulnerability to terrorism, and minimizing damage from and speeding recovery following attacks that occurred
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The chief gatherer of intelligence in foreign countries for the formulation and implementation of American foreign-policy
Treaties
Formal agreement made between nations or groups of nations
Executive agreements
A nonbinding presidential agreement made with another head of state in which both sides agreed to carry out a particular action; used by the president in implementing foreign policy
Multinational organization
A body established to allow nations to work collectively on certain issues
Globalization
The increasing integration of world markets, politics, and culture
United Nations (UN)
International organization founded in 1945 to maintain world peace and uphold human rights
Secretariat
The main administrative body of the United Nations
Secretary General
The head of the UN secretariat
General assembly
The primary representative body of the United Nations; made up of delegates from each member nation
Security council
The UN agency that deals with peace and security issues; made up a five permanent member nations (Chyna, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 10 other member nations serving two-year terms
Economic and social council
A part of the United Nations that promotes human rights
Trusteeship counsel
The UN agency that oversaw the independence of several small territories until it suspended operation in 1994
International Court of Justice
The main judicial body of the United Nations
North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO)
A mutual defense treaty established in 1949 between the United States and 11 other nations to protect Western Europe from Soviet aggression; membership has Since expanded to include many of the former European satellites of the former Soviet union
Rio treaty
A military agreement between the United States and several Latin American countries to provide a collective security in the western hemisphere
European Union (EU)
A primarily economic confederation of 27 European nations
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
An agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States for the implementation of free trade among these nations
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
And international body for breaking down trade barriers between nations; replaced by the world trade organization
World Trade Organization (WTO)
International body for breaking down trade barriers; replaced the general agreement on tariffs and trade In 1995
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
A UN agency that seeks to maintain world economic stability by providing funds to nations that are in financial crisis or that are rebuilding their economies
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
The US agency that is chiefly responsible for delivering foreign aid and providing both food and health and education services to needy countries while promoting free government and free market economies in recipient nations
Sanctions
Coercive actions taken against a nation to influence its policies
International emergency economic powers act (EEPA)
An act of Congress detailing the president's powers to establish and impose economic sanctions whenever a nation poses a threat to the security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States
National security agency (NSA)
With the Central intelligence agency, collects information for and promotes propaganda favorable to the US government
Terrorism
The use of unlawful means of war to achieve one's goals
Rogue nation
A nation that does one or more of the following: seeks to develop nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction; supplies, supports, or provides a safe haven for terrorist organizations; disregards international law and violates human rights; threa
Nuclear weapons
a bomb or missile that uses nuclear energy to cause an explosion
Radiological weapons
Conventional explosive surrounded by radioactive material; cheaper but no less deadly alternative to nuclear weapons
Chemical weapons
Use substances such as mustard gas, sarin, neurotoxin, or nerve agent to poison the enemy
Biological weapons
Use fatal diseases or organic toxins as weapons
Weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
Weapons designed to affect large numbers of the population in a single attack; includes nuclear, radiological, chemical, and biological weapons
Cultural imperialism
Promoting ones culture at the expense of others; has led to anti-Americanism in some parts of the world
Justice
Served as legal counsel for US citizens; protects the rights of American citizens; enforces drug, immigration, and naturalization laws; attorney General represents the US in legal matters
State
Negotiates treaties; represents the United States at international conferences; advises the president on the formulation of foreign policies; speaks for the United States in the united nations
Treasury
Manufacturers coins and currency; serves as the bank for the US government
Defense
Protects the security of our country; responsible for providing for the military so we going overseas Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force
Interior
Manages the nation's public lands and minerals; Protects and provides access to our nation's natural resources
Agriculture
Expands markets abroad for agricultural products; works to improve and maintain farm income; inspects and grades the food supply
Commerce
Encourages the international trade; offers assistance to increase Americans competitiveness in the world economy; encourages the nation's economic growth
Labor
Promotes and develops the welfare of the wage earners of the United States; Provides for job training programs; protects worker's pension rights; Improves wage earners' working conditions
Health and human services
Protect the health of all Americans; provides essential human services
Housing and urban development
Responsible for programs concerned with the nation's housing needs; Responsible for improvement and development of the nations cities
Transportation
Oversees motor carrier safety; oversees Highway planning; oversees urban mass transit, railroads, and aviation
Energy
Cleans up our nation's nuclear facilities; responsible for maintaining the nation's nuclear weapons; Fosters a secure and reliable energy system
Education
Promotes educational excellence throughout the nation; ensures equal access to education
Veterans' Affairs
Provides compensation Payments for disabilities or death related to military service; operates to benefit veterans and members of their families
Homeland security
Protect the nation against further terrorist attacks; coordinates the response of our nation for future emergencies