question

The ________ consists of the departments, agencies, and offers within the executive branch that perform the functions of government. a. administration b. bureaucracy c. cabinet d. civil service

answer

b. bureaucracy

question

Max Weber identified which of the following as a characteristic of an ideal bureaucracy? a. inefficiency b. transparency c. consensus-making d. task specialization

answer

d. task specialization

question

The civil service system was introduced with the passage of what law? a. the Hatch Act b. the Pendleton Act c. the Administrative Procedures Act d. the Freedom of Information Act

answer

b. the Pendleton Act

question

Under the spoils system, who was awarded jobs in the federal bureaucracy? a. those who scored highest on aptitude tests b. those who did not affiliate with a political party c. those who previously served in the military d. those who helped candidates win election

answer

d. those who helped candidates win elections

question

__________ are rules created by government agencies that determine how laws are implemented. a. Laws b. Patronage c. Regulations d. Statutes

answer

c. Regulations

question

Which law designates the steps that federal agencies must follow in issuing rules and regulations? a. the Administrative Procedures Act b. the Hatch Act c. the Pendleton Act d. the Privacy Act

answer

a. the Administrative Procedures Act

question

__________ refers to the authority of administrators in the federal bureaucracy to make choices concerning the best way to implement policies. a. Administrative adjudication b. Administrative discretion c. Division of labor d. Executive control

answer

b. Administrative discretion

question

The __________ was one of the three original executive branch departments in the U.S. government. a. Department of Agriculture b. Department of the Treasury c. Department of the Interior d. Commerce Department

answer

b. Department of the Treasury

question

Federal law requires that agencies must take what step before issuing new rules and regulations? a. They must obtain approval from the president. b. They must obtain approval from Congress. c. They must consult with an administrative law judge. d. They must solicit public comments.

answer

d. They must solicit public comments

question

Cabinet secretaries are nominated by __________ and confirmed by __________. a. the president; the Senate b. the president; the House of Representatives c. the president; the Supreme Court d. the Senate; the president

answer

a. the president; the Senate

question

What is implementation? a. the process by which a law or policy is put into operation b. a set of procedures executive branch agencies must follow when issuing rules c. the process by which government agencies settle legal disputes d. a set of rules enforcing government agreements with private contractors

answer

a. the process by which a law or policy is put into operation

question

Under amendments to the Hatch Act, federal employees are prohibited from __________. a. adjudicating legal disputes b. exercising administrative discretion c. running for partisan office d. running voter registration drives

answer

c. running for partisan office

question

The president has the authority to __________. a. abolish existing programs and agencies b. investigate agency activities and compel bureaucrats to testify about them c. make changes in an agency's annual budget proposals d. refuse to appropriate funds for certain programs

answer

c. make changes in an agency's annual budget proposals

question

__________ are working groups established to facilitate the coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of government agencies. a. Interagency councils b. Iron triangles c. Issue networks d. Independent regulatory commissions

answer

a. Interagency councils

question

Which of the following is a part of the federal bureaucracy? a. the Department of Defense b. the U.S. House of Representatives c. the U.S. Supreme Court d. the Democratic Party

answer

a. the Department of Defense

question

What function is the National Labor Relations board carrying out when it settles disputes between labor and management related to federal labor laws? a. creating regulations b. administrative adjudication c. providing expert advice d. providing a check on judicial power

answer

b. administrative adjudication

question

Which of the following is an example of the merit system? a. the president evaluating a policy proposal based on its merits b. citizens evaluating political candidates based on candidates' work experience c. agencies hiring people based on their performance on entrance exams d. agency officials evaluating a policy proposal based on its merits

answer

c. agencies hiring people based on their performance on entrance exams

question

Before 1883, how were government jobs awarded? a. Jobs were awarded based on applicants' expertise. b. Jobs were awarded through a lottery system. c. Jobs were awarded based on applicants' performance on entrance exams. d. Jobs were awarded based on applicants' loyalty to the party in power.

answer

d. Jobs were awarded based on applicants' loyalty to the party in power.

question

Which of the following is a function of the federal bureaucracy? a. issuing executive orders b. issuing executive agreements c. implementing congressional statutes d. implementing state laws

answer

c. implementing congressional statutes

question

One purpose of the Administrative Procedures Act is to __________. a. ensure opportunities for public participation in the rule-making process b. give federal agencies greater discretion in the rule-making process c. streamline bureaucratic activities in the rule-making process d. give the president greater control over the rule-making process

answer

a. ensure opportunities for public participation in the rule-making process

question

Which of the following is a presidential role in the federal bureaucracy? a. confirming federal appointees b. nominating people for some federal jobs c. creating or abolishing agencies d. conducting oversight hearings

answer

b. nominating people for some federal jobs

question

Which of the following is an example of an independent executive agency? a. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) b. the Department of Health and Human Services c. the Consumer Product Safety Commission d. the Tennessee Valley Authority

answer

a. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

question

Which of the following is an example of a government corporation? a. the Food and Drug Administration b. the Federal Elections Commission c. the Tennessee Valley Authority d. the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

answer

c. the Tennessee Valley Authority

question

Congress's watchdog over executive branch spending is __________. a. the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) b. the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) c. the Department of the Treasury d. the General Accountability Office (GAO)

answer

d. the General Accountability Office (GAO)

question

How did the Pendleton Act reform the system of hiring and firing federal employees? a. It required hiring and firing decisions to be based on partisan loyalty rather than merit. b. It required hiring and firing decisions to be based on merit rather than partisan loyalty. c. It continued to allow hiring on the basis of merit, but made firing federal employees easier. d. It continued to allow hiring on the basis of partisan loyalty, but made firing federal employees more difficult.

answer

b. It required hiring and firing decisions to be based on merit rather than partisan loyalty.

question

What is the main purpose served by government corporations? a. generating profit for the federal government b. providing services that the private sector lacks a financial incentive to provide c. breaking up monopolies and promoting free-market principles d. expanding international trade

answer

b. providing services that the private sector lacks a financial incentive to provide

question

What is a major purpose of an independent regulatory commission? a. to regulate commerce b. to increase productivity c. to oversee the executive branch d. to perform services

answer

a. to regulate commerce

question

Which statement about the quasi-judicial decisions made by government agencies is accurate? a. They are strictly advisory. b. They can be reviewed by federal courts. c. They are final and cannot be appealed. d. They limit administrative discretion.

answer

b. They can be reviewed by federal courts.

question

What role is the Environmental Protection Agency taking when it sets limits on air pollution from power plants? a. adjudication b. deliberation c. regulation d. oversight

answer

c. regulation

question

When did the largest growth in the federal workforce occur? a. Johnson's Great Society b. FDR's New Deal c. the Civil War d. World War II

answer

d. World War II

question

How did Americans' attitudes about the role of government change as a result of the Great Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal? a. People became more accepting of the federal government's role in economic policy. b. People became more cynical about the federal government's role in economic policy. c. People because more cynical about the federal government's role in social policy. d. People because more confident in the ability of state governments to handle economic policy.

answer

a. People became more accepting of the federal government's role in economic policy.

question

Congress and the president share which of the following powers over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy? a. the power to influence budgets b. the power to issue executive orders c. the power to sign executive agreements d. the power to hold oversight hearings

answer

a. the power to influence budgets

question

How do departments differ from independent agencies? a. Department heads are nominated by the president; agency heads are not. b. Agencies are typically larger than departments. c. Department heads are part of the president's Cabinet; agency heads are not. d. Departments cover a wider range of functions than agencies.

answer

c. Department heads are part of the president's Cabinet; agency heads are not.

question

How do government corporations differ from private companies? a. Government corporations perform activities that private companies have little incentive to provide. b. Government corporations cannot borrow money, whereas private companies can. c. Government corporations can sell stock, whereas private companies cannot. d. Government corporations need less government oversight than private companies.

answer

a. Government corporations perform activities that private companies have little incentive to provide

question

Which of the following statements best describes Congress's influence over agency budgets? a. Congress has final say over all department budgets, but has no control of the budgets of independent agencies. b. Congress has final say over the budgets of independent agencies, but has no control of department budgets. c. Congress has the authority to appropriate money to agencies. d. Congress influences the initial budget proposal, but depends on the president for appropriations of federal money.

answer

c. Congress has the authority to appropriate money to agencies.

question

Why did President Franklin D. Roosevelt create hundreds of new government agencies? a. to support Congress in its oversight of the executive and judiciary branches b. to produce the necessary weapons and ammunition to defend the nation c. to reform the civil service system d. to create jobs and to regulate the economy and business practices

answer

d. to create jobs and to regulate the economy and business practices

question

What was the purpose of the Hatch Act? a. to prohibit federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity b. to authorize greater discretion in bureaucratic decision making c. to limit congressional control of the federal bureaucracy d. to award government jobs based on partisan loyalty

answer

a. to prohibit federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity

question

What is a goal common to both the Pendleton Act and the Hatch Act? a. reducing the exercise of administrative discretion b. reducing the influence of partisan politics on the federal bureaucracy c. increasing presidential control of the federal bureaucracy d. streamlining the policy implementation process

answer

b. reducing the influence of partisan politics on the federal bureaucracy

question

How are Cabinet secretaries similar to independent agency administrators? a. Both are nominated by the president. b. Neither can be fired by the president. c. Both typically remain in office over multiple presidential administrations. d. Both are part of the federal civil service system.

answer

a. Both are nominated by the president.

question

Which of the following is currently a major concern about the federal workforce? a. the decentralization of government offices b. the large number of workers who will soon be eligible to retire c. the low turnover rate in many important positions d. the movement to revive the patronage system

answer

b. the large number of workers who will soon be eligible to retire

question

How are interagency councils similar to policy coordinating committees? a. Both coordinate the activities of multiple agencies. b. Both help coordinate the activities of the federal and state governments. c. Both are housed within the legislative branch. d. Both have the authority to override the decisions of agency heads.

answer

a. Both coordinate the activities of multiple agencies.

question

Which of the following was a consequence of the spoils, or patronage, system? a. The federal bureaucracy was staffed with people who often lacked expertise. b. There was low turnover in the federal bureaucracy between presidential administrations. c. There was little government corruption. d. Voter turnout was lower.

answer

a. The federal bureaucracy was staffed with people who often lacked expertise.

question

What event served as a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act? a. the growth of the Republican Party in the 1880s b. the expansion of the federal bureaucracy in the 1880s c. the assassination of James Garfield in 1881 d. the election of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876

answer

c. the assassination of James Garfield in 1881

question

What has been the effect of requirements that agencies conduct a formal hearing before issuing rules? a. Criticism of rules is increased because the public is more informed. b. Public input typically speeds up the process. c. The courts tend to give greater deference to agency decisions. d. The president becomes more directly involved in the procedure.

answer

c. The courts tend to give greater deference to agency decisions.

question

Which of the following contributed to the growth of federal bureaucracy during the twentieth century? a. the Hatch Act b. the elimination of the spoils system c. World War II d. the Pendleton Act

answer

c. World War II

question

Under what circumstance might a president set up a policy coordinating committee (PSC)? a. when a cabinet member wants to enlarge his or her sphere of influence b. when citizens want to intervene in an agency's rule-making procedure c. when funding is short and two agencies can be merged to create one agency d. when agencies need to work together to ensure consistent policies

answer

d. when agencies need to work together to ensure consistent policies

question

Why was the spoils system ultimately replaced by the civil service system? a. due to growing concerns about a poorly functioning federal bureaucracy b. due to public pressure to shrink the size of the federal bureaucracy c. due to a Supreme Court decision ruling the spoils system unconstitutional d. due to congressional demands for greater control over the federal bureaucracy

answer

a. due to growing concerns about a poorly functioning federal bureaucracy

question

What factor was influential in driving expansion of the federal bureaucracy in the post-Civil War era? a. the expansion of voting rights to African American men b. the elimination of the spoils system c. a series of poor harvests and agricultural distribution problems d. the growing incidence of price fixing and other unfair business practices

answer

d. the growing incidence of price fixing and other unfair business practices

question

According to Max Weber, ideal bureaucracies are characterized by a chain of command in which authority flows from top to bottom.

answer

TRUE

question

Federal agencies are prohibited from engaging in any quasi-judicial processes.

answer

FALSE

question

The president and Congress share oversight of the federal bureaucracy.

answer

TRUE

question

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an example of a government corporation.

answer

TRUE

question

Each independent agency in the executive branch is headed by a Cabinet secretary

answer

FALSE

question

The federal workforce is split evenly between men and women.

answer

FALSE

question

According to the liberalized Hatch Act, federal employees may make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections.

answer

TRUE

question

Bureaucrats often have considerable administrative discretion in the implementation of federal laws.

answer

TRUE

question

Over 3 million people work for the federal government.

answer

TRUE

question

Regulations are usually created by Congress

answer

FALSE

question

Decisions reached by agencies through administrative adjudication can be reviewed by the federal courts.

answer

TRUE

question

Both Congress and the president are involved in the process of filling high-level positions in the federal bureaucracy.

answer

TRUE

question

In 1789, three executive departments existed under the Articles of Confederation: Foreign Affairs, War, and __________.

answer

treasury

question

According to the __________ Act, federal agencies must solicit public comments before issuing new rules and regulations.

answer

Administrative Procedures

question

Under the __________ system, jobs in the federal bureaucracy are awarded on the basis of skills and expertise.

answer

Civil service or merit

question

__________ often holds oversight hearings to investigate the policies and performance of agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy.

answer

Congress

question

After a president nominates an individual to be a Cabinet secretary, that appointment must be confirmed by __________.

answer

the Senate

question

When the U.S. Department of Transportation stipulates how many hours truck drivers can be on the road per week, the department is creating a(n) __________.

answer

regulation

question

The __________ led to the creation of the civil service system, even though it initially covered only 10 percent of the federal workforce.

answer

Pendleton Act

question

The president appoints, but cannot easily dismiss, officials who serve on __________.

answer

independent regulatory commision

question

The Social Security Administration rendering a decision about whether an individual was wrongly denied disability payments illustrates the __________ function of the federal bureaucracy.

answer

Administrative adjudication

question

The purpose of the __________ was to prohibit federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities.

answer

Hatch Act

question

One function of __________ is to provide public services that the private sector is unlikely to do.

answer

Government Corporations

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