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administrative discretion
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Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws; use their expertise and good judgement to interpret vague laws
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administrative rulemaking
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The process by which an independent commission or agency fills in the details of a vague law by formulating, proposing, and approving rules, regulations, and standards that will be enforced to implement the policy.
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administrative adjudication
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the process by which agencies resolve disputes over the implementation of their administrative rules
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Government in the Sunshine Act
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A federal act that opens most federal administrative agency meetings to the public.
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Freedom of Information Act
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Gives all citizens the right to inspect all records of federal agencies except those containing military, intelligence, or trade secrets; increases accountability of bureaucracy
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Whistleblower Protection Act
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A law passed in 1989 which created an Office of Special Counsel to investigate complaints from bureaucrats claiming they were punished after reporting to Congress about waste, fraud, or abuse in their agencies.
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revolving door
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Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.
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Hatch Act
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A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.
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issue network
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Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.
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Iron Triangle
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interest-based relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee and an interest group focused on a give issue, it isn't as relevant as it once was
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Pendleton Act
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1883 law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons