The Federal Bureaucracy Answers – Flashcards
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Which of the following did Max Weber identify as a characteristic of bureaucracy?
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task specialization
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After which law was the civil service system introduced?
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the Pendleton Act
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Who was awarded jobs in the bureaucracy under the spoils system?
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those who helped candidates win an election
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What are rules created by government agencies that determine how laws are implemented?
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regulations
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Which of the following is a means of enforcing a bureaucratic regulation?
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Sending inspectros to evaluate compliance
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Those who believe that regulations on business and industry are too numerous and too complex are likely to favor the policy of _____________.
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deregulation
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What is the largest organizational unit in the federal bureaucracy?
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department
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What term refers to the authorit of administrators in the federal bureaucracy to make choices concering the best way to implement policies?
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discretion
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Which Cabinet department did Congress create shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks?
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the Department of Homeland Security
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Cabinet secretaries are appointed by ______ and confirmed by ________.
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the president; the Senate
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Which of the following grants bureaucracies the authority to issue regulations?
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Congress
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What is implementation?
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the process by which a law or policy is put into practice
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The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in what activity?
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running for elected office
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Who are the three main players in an iron triangle?
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bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees
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What uses marketlike strategies such as rewards to manage public policy?
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an incentive system
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How does Congress exercise control over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?
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by issuing executive orders
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Which of the following is an example of a bureaucratic organization?
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the Department of Defense
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Which of these statements about the bureaucracy is most accurate?
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Americans dislike bureaucracies.
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Which of the following would be an example of Weber's merit principle?
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hiring bureaucrats based on their ability to do the job
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How were government jobs awarded before 1883?
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based on applicants' loyalty to the party in power
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Which of the following is a function of departments and agencies within the federal bureaucracy?
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implementing public policies
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What is usually the firs step in obtaining a civil service job?
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taking a test
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How does the president exercise control over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?
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by nominating federal appointees
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Which is an example of an independent executive agency?
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the GSA (General Services Administration)
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What trend has privatization and outsourcing gone through in recent years?
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It has increased at the federal level
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How did the Pendleton Act reform the system of hiring and firing federal employees?
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it required hiring and firing decisions to be based on merit rather than partisan loyalty
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What is the main purpose served by government corporations?
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providing services not fully trusted to the private sector
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Which of Max Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy is illustrated by a government agency in which the greatest authority resides with the agency head?
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hierarchial authority/structure
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Which of the following best describes the policies related to firing federal civil servants?
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It is often difficult and time consuming to fire a civil servant
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What role is the Environmental Protection Agency taking when it sets limits on air pollution from power plants?
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regulation
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How do standard operating procuedures influence bureaucratic decision making?
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they promote uniform application of rules
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What was implementation of the Voting Rights act of 1965 aided by?
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federal registrars dispatched to southern counties
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Congress and the president share which of the following powers over agencies and departments in the bureaucracy?
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the power to influence budgets
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How do departments differ from independent agencies?
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Department heads are part of the presidential Cabinet while agency heads are not
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How do government corporations differ from private companies?
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Government corporations perform activities that private companies cannot
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How are independent regulatory commissions similar to independent executive agencies?
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both operate outside of executive department control
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Which of the following statements best describes the president's influence over agency budgets?
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The president influences the initial budget proposal, but depends on Congress for appropriations of federal money
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Which of the following agencies is most removed from presidential and congressional control?
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the Federal Reserve System
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What was the purpose of the Hatch Act?
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to prohibit federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity
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What is a goal common to both the Pendleton Act and the Hatch Act?
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reducing the influence of partisan politics on the federal bureaucracy
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How are cabinet secretaries similar to independent agency administrators?
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both are appointed by the president
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Which of the following is a primary goal of privatization or outsourcing?
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to improve the efficiency of public service delivery
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How do command and control policies differ from incentive systems?
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Command and control policies typically focus on punishing those who violate the law, whereas incentive systems often include rewards
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Why do its proponents argue that deregulation is a good public policy?
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Eliminating costly regulations makes the U.S. more competitive in the world marketplace
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Which of the following was a consequence of the spoils system?
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The federal bureaucracy was staffed with people who lacked expertise
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Under which circumstance are bureaucrats most likely to exercise discretion?
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when an agency is implementing a law that contains ambiguity
