๐Ÿ“œintro to political science review

Bureaucracy

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

Bureaucracy is a system of government in which most of the critical decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. It is characterized by a hierarchical structure, specialized functions, and adherence to fixed rules.