Question 1

The ________ administers the federal school lunch program.

Accepted Answer

A)  Department of Health and Human Services 
B)  Department of Agriculture 
C)  Department of State 
D)  National Park Service 
E)  Department of Education 
A)  Department of Health and Human Services 
B)  Department of Agriculture 
C)  Department of State 
D)  National Park Service 
E)  Department of Education B

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the Federal Reserve System (the Fed) is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Fed was established by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton in 1793. 
B)  Congress created the Fed in 1913. 
C)  The Fed was established in 1933, during the famous "Hundred Days" of the New Deal. 
D)  Richard Nixon established the Fed in 1969 as an attempt to gain more White House control over monetary policy. 
E)  The Fed was established by Herbert Hoover as a weak attempt at warding off the Great Depression. 
A)  The Fed was established by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton in 1793. 
B)  Congress created the Fed in 1913. 
C)  The Fed was established in 1933, during the famous "Hundred Days" of the New Deal. 
D)  Richard Nixon established the Fed in 1969 as an attempt to gain more White House control over monetary policy. 
E)  The Fed was established by Herbert Hoover as a weak attempt at warding off the Great Depression. B

Question 3

At its peak in ________, the federal bureaucracy had ________ employees, not including military personnel.

Accepted Answer

A)  1936; 6 million 
B)  1968; 3 million 
C)  1982; 1 million 
D)  1996; 8 million 
E)  2005; 10 million 
A)  1936; 6 million 
B)  1968; 3 million 
C)  1982; 1 million 
D)  1996; 8 million 
E)  2005; 10 million B

Question 4

Devolution describes a process through which

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress gives up some of its power to the executive branch. 
B)  the federal government is downsized by delegating the implementation of programs to state and local governments. 
C)  state and local governments are downsized by delegating the implementation of programs to the federal government. 
D)  the United States delegates some of its power to the United Nations. 
E)  the federal government is downsized by completely cutting wasteful programs. 
A)  Congress gives up some of its power to the executive branch. 
B)  the federal government is downsized by delegating the implementation of programs to state and local governments. 
C)  state and local governments are downsized by delegating the implementation of programs to the federal government. 
D)  the United States delegates some of its power to the United Nations. 
E)  the federal government is downsized by completely cutting wasteful programs.

Question 5

The controversy over the Patriot Act reveals the complications of balancing ________ with the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  national security; civil liberties of individuals 
B)  the flexibility of the president; oversight of state governors 
C)  the needs of domestic security; commitments of international treaties 
D)  the goals of diplomacy; needs of bureaucratic expertise 
E)  the authority of the president; power of Congress 
A)  national security; civil liberties of individuals 
B)  the flexibility of the president; oversight of state governors 
C)  the needs of domestic security; commitments of international treaties 
D)  the goals of diplomacy; needs of bureaucratic expertise 
E)  the authority of the president; power of Congress

Question 6

How are ambassadors chosen?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are part of the federal bureaucracy's merit system. 
B)  They are selected by the president, often as patronage for large campaign donations. 
C)  They are selected by the secretary of state. 
D)  They are elected to four-year terms of office by the nation to which they will be ambassador. 
E)  They are appointed by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 
A)  They are part of the federal bureaucracy's merit system. 
B)  They are selected by the president, often as patronage for large campaign donations. 
C)  They are selected by the secretary of state. 
D)  They are elected to four-year terms of office by the nation to which they will be ambassador. 
E)  They are appointed by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Question 7

Which president's approach to the managerial presidency featured a deep belief in the importance of scientific expertise in government service?

Accepted Answer

A)  Barack Obama 
B)  George W. Bush 
C)  George H. W. Bush 
D)  Ronald Reagan 
E)  Bill Clinton 
A)  Barack Obama 
B)  George W. Bush 
C)  George H. W. Bush 
D)  Ronald Reagan 
E)  Bill Clinton

Question 8

Which one of the following is NOT a federal department entrusted with providing national security?

Accepted Answer

A)  Defense 
B)  State 
C)  Police 
D)  Justice 
E)  Homeland Security 
A)  Defense 
B)  State 
C)  Police 
D)  Justice 
E)  Homeland Security

Question 9

Which of the following is the best description of an iron triangle?

Accepted Answer

A)  the stable relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a clientele group, and a legislative committee 
B)  the inability to reform federal rules without help from the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the president 
C)  the domination of a few large companies in the regulation of iron mining and smelting 
D)  the breakdown in the separation of powers between Congress, the federal judiciary, and the president 
E)  the stable relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a legislative committee, and the president 
A)  the stable relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a clientele group, and a legislative committee 
B)  the inability to reform federal rules without help from the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the president 
C)  the domination of a few large companies in the regulation of iron mining and smelting 
D)  the breakdown in the separation of powers between Congress, the federal judiciary, and the president 
E)  the stable relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a legislative committee, and the president

Question 10

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress passes laws creating and funding most federal bureaus. 
B)  The Cabinet secretaries create most federal bureaus out of administrative necessity and convenience. 
C)  Most federal bureaus are created by executive agreement. 
D)  Most federal bureaus are created by the Constitution's Article II powers. 
E)  Most federal bureaus are created by executive order of the president. 
A)  Congress passes laws creating and funding most federal bureaus. 
B)  The Cabinet secretaries create most federal bureaus out of administrative necessity and convenience. 
C)  Most federal bureaus are created by executive agreement. 
D)  Most federal bureaus are created by the Constitution's Article II powers. 
E)  Most federal bureaus are created by executive order of the president.

Question 11

Privatization is a way to

Accepted Answer

A)  shrink the federal budget by selling government services or property in the private sector. 
B)  reduce government costs by relocating government programs to private groups or corporations. 
C)  reduce big government by doing without some of the programs it once provided. 
D)  increase the government's role by purchasing private companies. 
E)  reduce government costs by lowering the amount of benefits paid out to private citizens. 
A)  shrink the federal budget by selling government services or property in the private sector. 
B)  reduce government costs by relocating government programs to private groups or corporations. 
C)  reduce big government by doing without some of the programs it once provided. 
D)  increase the government's role by purchasing private companies. 
E)  reduce government costs by lowering the amount of benefits paid out to private citizens.

Question 12

A bureau charged with putting restrictions and obligations on individuals or corporations in the private sector is called a ________ agency.

Accepted Answer

A)  redistributive 
B)  police 
C)  regulatory 
D)  fiscal 
E)  clientele 
A)  redistributive 
B)  police 
C)  regulatory 
D)  fiscal 
E)  clientele

Question 13

What would be the most likely outcome if federal governmental officials were to cease all economic regulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The marketplace would work more efficiently and quickly. 
B)  The marketplace would favor the more numerous workers rather than corporate interests. 
C)  The marketplace would fall into chaos. 
D)  The marketplace would globalize more quickly. 
E)  The marketplace would stabilize. 
A)  The marketplace would work more efficiently and quickly. 
B)  The marketplace would favor the more numerous workers rather than corporate interests. 
C)  The marketplace would fall into chaos. 
D)  The marketplace would globalize more quickly. 
E)  The marketplace would stabilize.

Question 14

What were government officials trying to accomplish when they called for the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act to create an additional database that would record contractors who have legal or contract violations?

Accepted Answer

A)  providing adequate government oversight for an increasingly expanding force of independent contractors 
B)  creating a national database to make it easier for the government to collect tax revenues from government contractors 
C)  creating a national database to make sure that government contractors do not have any conflicts of interest with high-ranking public officials 
D)  creating a better system so that the government can find contractors to perform government jobs more quickly 
E)  increasing the number of contractors available to work for the government 
A)  providing adequate government oversight for an increasingly expanding force of independent contractors 
B)  creating a national database to make it easier for the government to collect tax revenues from government contractors 
C)  creating a national database to make sure that government contractors do not have any conflicts of interest with high-ranking public officials 
D)  creating a better system so that the government can find contractors to perform government jobs more quickly 
E)  increasing the number of contractors available to work for the government

Question 15

Which of the following statements best describes how recent administrations have approached the issue of bureaucratic reform?

Accepted Answer

A)  Republican administrations have aimed to make the existing bureaucracy work more effectively while Democratic administrations have sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. 
B)  Democratic administrations have aimed to make the existing bureaucracy work more effectively while Republican administrations have sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. 
C)  Both Democratic and Republican administrations have rejected the idea of reducing bureaucracy and have aimed to make existing bureaucracy work more effectively. 
D)  Both Democratic and Republican administrations have given up on trying to make the existing bureaucracy function more effectively and instead sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. 
E)  Both Democrats and Republicans have avoided any attempts to reform government bureaucracy. 
A)  Republican administrations have aimed to make the existing bureaucracy work more effectively while Democratic administrations have sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. 
B)  Democratic administrations have aimed to make the existing bureaucracy work more effectively while Republican administrations have sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. 
C)  Both Democratic and Republican administrations have rejected the idea of reducing bureaucracy and have aimed to make existing bureaucracy work more effectively. 
D)  Both Democratic and Republican administrations have given up on trying to make the existing bureaucracy function more effectively and instead sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. 
E)  Both Democrats and Republicans have avoided any attempts to reform government bureaucracy.

Question 16

Which of the following is true about the National Performance Review?

Accepted Answer

A)  The size of the federal workforce was reduced by about 50 percent. 
B)  The size of the federal workforce was reduced by about 25 percent. 
C)  The size of the federal workforce was reduced by about 10 percent. 
D)  The size of the federal workforce did not really change at all. 
E)  The size of the federal workforce increased by 15 percent. 
A)  The size of the federal workforce was reduced by about 50 percent. 
B)  The size of the federal workforce was reduced by about 25 percent. 
C)  The size of the federal workforce was reduced by about 10 percent. 
D)  The size of the federal workforce did not really change at all. 
E)  The size of the federal workforce increased by 15 percent.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the merit system is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Every member and official of a government agency has been appointed as part of the merit system. 
B)  The merit system establishes competitive exams for jobs. 
C)  The merit system gives bureaucrats job protection. 
D)  The merit system in federal employment originated in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. 
E)  The merit system stipulates that appointees to public office must be qualified for the job to which they are appointed. 
A)  Every member and official of a government agency has been appointed as part of the merit system. 
B)  The merit system establishes competitive exams for jobs. 
C)  The merit system gives bureaucrats job protection. 
D)  The merit system in federal employment originated in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. 
E)  The merit system stipulates that appointees to public office must be qualified for the job to which they are appointed.

Question 18

One drawback of devolution is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the standards associated with particular programs become increasingly rigid and hard to enforce. 
B)  the standards associated with particular programs become increasingly variable between states. 
C)  Congress is removed completely from the United States' foreign policy process. 
D)  programs become much more difficult to budget. 
E)  states have a much harder time implementing programs than the federal government does. 
A)  the standards associated with particular programs become increasingly rigid and hard to enforce. 
B)  the standards associated with particular programs become increasingly variable between states. 
C)  Congress is removed completely from the United States' foreign policy process. 
D)  programs become much more difficult to budget. 
E)  states have a much harder time implementing programs than the federal government does.

Question 19

Who has authority to set interest rates and lending activities for the nation's banks?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Federal Reserve System 
B)  the Secretary of the Treasury 
C)  the Internal Revenue Service 
D)  the Securities and Exchange Commission 
E)  the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
A)  the Federal Reserve System 
B)  the Secretary of the Treasury 
C)  the Internal Revenue Service 
D)  the Securities and Exchange Commission 
E)  the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Question 20

Public bureaucracies are powerful because

Accepted Answer

A)  they are not subject to control by the president or Congress. 
B)  their actions cannot be overturned or challenged by courts. 
C)  they have the power of both "the purse" and "the sword." 
D)  legislatures, chief executives, and the people delegate vast power to them to make sure a particular job is done. 
E)  every one of their employees is appointed for life. 
A)  they are not subject to control by the president or Congress. 
B)  their actions cannot be overturned or challenged by courts. 
C)  they have the power of both "the purse" and "the sword." 
D)  legislatures, chief executives, and the people delegate vast power to them to make sure a particular job is done. 
E)  every one of their employees is appointed for life.

The ________ administers the federal school lunch program.

Which of the following statements about the Federal Reserve System (the Fed) is correct?

At its peak in , the federal bureaucracy had employees, not including military personnel.

Devolution describes a process through which

The controversy over the Patriot Act reveals the complications of balancing with the .

How are ambassadors chosen?

Which president's approach to the managerial presidency featured a deep belief in the importance of scientific expertise in government service?

Which one of the following is NOT a federal department entrusted with providing national security?

Which of the following is the best description of an iron triangle?

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

Privatization is a way to

A bureau charged with putting restrictions and obligations on individuals or corporations in the private sector is called a ________ agency.

What would be the most likely outcome if federal governmental officials were to cease all economic regulation?

What were government officials trying to accomplish when they called for the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act to create an additional database that would record contractors who have legal or contract violations?

Which of the following statements best describes how recent administrations have approached the issue of bureaucratic reform?

Which of the following is true about the National Performance Review?

Which of the following statements about the merit system is FALSE?

One drawback of devolution is that

Who has authority to set interest rates and lending activities for the nation's banks?

Public bureaucracies are powerful because

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 14: Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The ________ administers the federal school lunch program.

Which of the following statements about the Federal Reserve System (the Fed) is correct?

At its peak in ________, the federal bureaucracy had ________ employees, not including military personnel.

Devolution describes a process through which

The controversy over the Patriot Act reveals the complications of balancing ________ with the ________.

How are ambassadors chosen?

Which president's approach to the managerial presidency featured a deep belief in the importance of scientific expertise in government service?

Which one of the following is NOT a federal department entrusted with providing national security?

Which of the following is the best description of an iron triangle?

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

Privatization is a way to

A bureau charged with putting restrictions and obligations on individuals or corporations in the private sector is called a ________ agency.

What would be the most likely outcome if federal governmental officials were to cease all economic regulation?

What were government officials trying to accomplish when they called for the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act to create an additional database that would record contractors who have legal or contract violations?

Which of the following statements best describes how recent administrations have approached the issue of bureaucratic reform?

Which of the following is true about the National Performance Review?

Which of the following statements about the merit system is FALSE?

One drawback of devolution is that

Who has authority to set interest rates and lending activities for the nation's banks?

Public bureaucracies are powerful because

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

At its peak in , the federal bureaucracy had employees, not including military personnel.

The controversy over the Patriot Act reveals the complications of balancing with the .