Which term refers to an administration characterized by rules, a hierarchy of offices, and centralized authority?

• A. Conjugal family
• B. Bureaucracy
• C. Amalgamation
• D. Community organization

Answer: (B)

Bureaucracy is a structured administrative system defined by formal rules, a clear hierarchy of offices, and centralized authority. In such systems tasks are specialized, decisions follow standardized procedures, and power flows from the top down through a chain of command. These features—written rules, division of labor, and centralized control—are designed to promote predictability, efficiency, and accountability, a concept often linked to Weber’s idea of rational-legal authority. The other terms describe different social formations: conjugal family centers on marriage-based family units; amalgamation means merging entities; community organization refers to voluntary groups formed for mutual aid or service. So the term that best fits rules, a hierarchy of offices, and centralized authority is bureaucracy.