How Government Works — Glossary

A legislative committee responsible for determining the specific allocation of funds to government agencies and programs.

An authoritarian regime concentrates power in a single leader or party with limited political freedoms.

A system of government officials and agencies responsible for implementing laws and policies through organized procedures.

The resistance within government agencies to change policies or procedures, often slowing foreign policy adaptation.

The civil service is a professional body of government employees who implement public policies and programs.

Michel Foucault described governmentality as the techniques and strategies by which governments shape citizens' behavior and manage populations.

The Government Accountability Office is an independent agency that audits and evaluates government programs to ensure efficient use of public funds.

Intergovernmental relations coordinate collaboration and conflict resolution between different government levels.

A governmental body that coordinates intelligence analysis and advises policymakers on security matters.

The process by which legislative bodies monitor and supervise government agencies and officials to ensure laws are implemented properly and to prevent abuse of power.

The process through which problems and issues gain the attention of policymakers and become priorities for government action. It shapes which topics receive legislative or executive focus.

The stages through which public policy progresses: agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and termination.

A form of government where the executive branch is separate from the legislature, and the president is both head of state and government.

A regulatory agency enforces rules and standards to control specific industries or activities for public interest.

The theory that individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender some freedoms in exchange for social order and protection.

A theory in political philosophy positing that individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender some freedoms to authority in exchange for protection of rights.