IN YOUR OWN WORDS, DEFINE: 1)BUREAUCRACY 2)SPOILS SYSTEM 3)MERIT
SYSTEM 4)PENDLETON ACT 5)PENDELTON SHIRT 6)HATCH ACT 7)WHISTLEBLOWER
8)IRON TRIANGLE 9)DISCRETIONARY POWERS 10) SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 10 Nov 2002 07:09 PST

I could define all those in my own words, except for "Pendleton
shirt," because I'm not familiar with that term except as a item of
clothing.  Would that be acceptable as an answer?

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Clarification of Question by npb17-ga on 11 Nov 2002 10:56 PST

sure

Hi,

I've provided definitions in my own words below.  Beneath most of the
definitions is a backup source that provides further information about
the term.

Bureaucracy -- Collectively, the nonelected officials that perform the
executive functions of government.  The term is often used with a
negative meaning.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=bureaucracy

Spoils system -- The party in power gets to appoint people to vacant
positions and otherwise gets the benefits of having control of the
bureaucracy.  The term is usually used with a negative meaning.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=spoils

Merit system -- People are appointed to unelected offices using
ostensibly objective standards, usually as part of a civil service
system.

Pendleton Act -- A law passed by Congress in 1883 to establish a civil
service system for the federal government.

Backgrounder On The Pendleton Act
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/pubs/AmLnC/br28.htm

Hatch Act -- A law, substantially revised in 1993, that sharply
restricts political activity by federal employees.

Political Activity (The Hatch Act)
http://www.cpms.osd.mil/vip/per_data/128.htm

Hatch Act FAQ
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/custoday/sep2000/hatch2.htm

Whistle-blower -- Someone within a company or agency that "blows the
whistle" on wrongdoing by reporting to a prosecutorial agency (such as
the attorney general or district attorney) or to the news media.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=whistle-blower

Iron triangle -- Legislators, bureaucrats and lobbyists (or special
interest groups).  They often work together closely, and together they
can be quite powerful as to some extent they all depend on each other.
 The term actually has a number of meanings, but you can find examples
of it with the above meaning by using the following Google search:

Search: "iron triangle" bureaucrats
://www.google.com/search?q=%22iron+triangle%22+bureaucrats

Discretionary powers -- Powers that an agency (or court or public
official) can exercise but doesn't have to.  For example, a school
board may have the discretionary power to expel a student who cheats
on homework, but it may not be required to do so.  Similarly, a safety
agency may have the power to ban certain items, but it may not be
required to.  Examples of this term can be found with the following
Google search:

Search: "discretionary powers" "political science"
://www.google.com/search?num=25&hl=es&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=%22discretionary+powers%22+%22political+science%22

Senior Executive Service -- A corps of about 7,000 people who serve in
key positions in the federal government just below Presidential
appointees.  They form kind of a middle layer or buffer that provides
day-to-day oversight over the operations of federal agencies.

Introduction to SES
http://www.opm.gov/ses/intro.html

I hope this is helpful.

Sincerely,

mvguy