Question 1

The practice of staffing government bureaucracies on the basis of political connections and political loyalty is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  the merit system. 
B)  the good old boy network. 
C)  the spoils system. 
D)  the bureaucratic system. 
A)  the merit system. 
B)  the good old boy network. 
C)  the spoils system. 
D)  the bureaucratic system.

Question 2

Congressional willingness to grant policy making authority to agencies stems partly from their

Accepted Answer

A)  neutral competence. 
B)  expertise. 
C)  presidential appointment. 
D)  representativeness. 
A)  neutral competence. 
B)  expertise. 
C)  presidential appointment. 
D)  representativeness.

Question 3

The term used to refer to the interdependent relationship among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and congressional committees is

Accepted Answer

A)  clientele groups. 
B)  issue networks. 
C)  iron triangles. 
D)  political action committees (PACs). 
A)  clientele groups. 
B)  issue networks. 
C)  iron triangles. 
D)  political action committees (PACs).

Question 4

The principal-agent model is

Accepted Answer

A)  based on the notion that the primary role of the bureaucracy is to implement the mandates issued to it by its political principals (e.g., Congress, the president). 
B)  a way for the president to control the bureaucracy by selecting the people who will head its agencies. 
C)  a way to make government bureaucracies more efficient. 
D)  a way to ensure fair treatment and protect constitutional rights similar to the way school principals are supposed to enforce rules fairly. 
A)  based on the notion that the primary role of the bureaucracy is to implement the mandates issued to it by its political principals (e.g., Congress, the president). 
B)  a way for the president to control the bureaucracy by selecting the people who will head its agencies. 
C)  a way to make government bureaucracies more efficient. 
D)  a way to ensure fair treatment and protect constitutional rights similar to the way school principals are supposed to enforce rules fairly.

Question 5

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Accepted Answer

A)  requires agencies to hold open meetings. 
B)  was vetoed by Nixon, who claimed it violated "executive privilege". 
C)  allows people to obtain information from agencies, provided it is not classified or concerned with matters of national security. 
D)  preserves and extends free speech rights for all internet use. 
A)  requires agencies to hold open meetings. 
B)  was vetoed by Nixon, who claimed it violated "executive privilege". 
C)  allows people to obtain information from agencies, provided it is not classified or concerned with matters of national security. 
D)  preserves and extends free speech rights for all internet use.

Question 6

NASA is a federal agency under the authority of the Department of Defense, reflecting its mission of developing military superiority in space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

A ___________________ is a measure that gives Congress the ability to reject an action or decision of the bureaucracy.

Accepted Answer

A)  legislative mandate 
B)  legislative veto 
C)  rule 
D)  cloture vote 
A)  legislative mandate 
B)  legislative veto 
C)  rule 
D)  cloture vote

Question 8

Government bureaucracies are largely responsible for the performance of the governing/political system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) exemplify which of the following characteristics of bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Division of labor 
B)  Professionalization 
C)  Formal rules 
D)  Hierarchy 
A)  Division of labor 
B)  Professionalization 
C)  Formal rules 
D)  Hierarchy

Question 10

Herbert Simon's theory that humans are not "utility maximizers" is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  rational choice . 
B)  the collective action problem. 
C)  game theory. 
D)  bounded rationality. 
A)  rational choice . 
B)  the collective action problem. 
C)  game theory. 
D)  bounded rationality.

Question 11

The federal bureaucracy

Accepted Answer

A)  is centralized under the Executive Office of the President. 
B)  is government by centralized boards of control in each branch of government. 
C)  is overseen by Congress. 
D)  consists of numerous departments, independent agencies, and advisory committees. 
A)  is centralized under the Executive Office of the President. 
B)  is government by centralized boards of control in each branch of government. 
C)  is overseen by Congress. 
D)  consists of numerous departments, independent agencies, and advisory committees.

Question 12

Bureaucratic appointments made based on political connections rather than skills and qualifications exemplify which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The spoils system 
B)  The civil service system 
C)  The merit system 
D)  Neutral competence 
A)  The spoils system 
B)  The civil service system 
C)  The merit system 
D)  Neutral competence

Question 13

The process by which regulatory agencies decide what the laws passed by Congress mean and how they should be carried out is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  rulemaking. 
B)  adjudication. 
C)  judicial review. 
D)  fire alarm oversight. 
A)  rulemaking. 
B)  adjudication. 
C)  judicial review. 
D)  fire alarm oversight.

Question 14

If a bureaucratic agency decides to adopt a policy approach that is merely acceptable, rather than optimal, then it is

Accepted Answer

A)  maximizing utility. 
B)  minimizing utility. 
C)  adopting a "mini-max" strategy. 
D)  satisficing. 
A)  maximizing utility. 
B)  minimizing utility. 
C)  adopting a "mini-max" strategy. 
D)  satisficing.

Question 15

Unlike the elected branches of government, American bureaucracy is remarkable for its racial and gender diversity, which is an almost perfect reflection of the U.S. population

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The practice of staffing government bureaucracies on the basis of political connections and political loyalty is known as

Congressional willingness to grant policy making authority to agencies stems partly from their

The term used to refer to the interdependent relationship among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and congressional committees is

The principal-agent model is

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

NASA is a federal agency under the authority of the Department of Defense, reflecting its mission of developing military superiority in space.

A ___________________ is a measure that gives Congress the ability to reject an action or decision of the bureaucracy.

Government bureaucracies are largely responsible for the performance of the governing/political system.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) exemplify which of the following characteristics of bureaucracy?

Herbert Simon's theory that humans are not "utility maximizers" is known as

The federal bureaucracy

Bureaucratic appointments made based on political connections rather than skills and qualifications exemplify which of the following?

The process by which regulatory agencies decide what the laws passed by Congress mean and how they should be carried out is called a

If a bureaucratic agency decides to adopt a policy approach that is merely acceptable, rather than optimal, then it is

Unlike the elected branches of government, American bureaucracy is remarkable for its racial and gender diversity, which is an almost perfect reflection of the U.S. population

The Basics of Democracy

The American Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

The Mass Media and Politics

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Elections

Political Participation and Voting Behavior

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Judiciary

Core Democratic Principles and Public Policy

Filters

Exam 14: The Bureaucracy

The practice of staffing government bureaucracies on the basis of political connections and political loyalty is known as

Congressional willingness to grant policy making authority to agencies stems partly from their

The term used to refer to the interdependent relationship among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and congressional committees is

The principal-agent model is

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

NASA is a federal agency under the authority of the Department of Defense, reflecting its mission of developing military superiority in space.

A ___________________ is a measure that gives Congress the ability to reject an action or decision of the bureaucracy.

Government bureaucracies are largely responsible for the performance of the governing/political system.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) exemplify which of the following characteristics of bureaucracy?

Herbert Simon's theory that humans are not "utility maximizers" is known as

The federal bureaucracy

Bureaucratic appointments made based on political connections rather than skills and qualifications exemplify which of the following?

The process by which regulatory agencies decide what the laws passed by Congress mean and how they should be carried out is called a

If a bureaucratic agency decides to adopt a policy approach that is merely acceptable, rather than optimal, then it is

Unlike the elected branches of government, American bureaucracy is remarkable for its racial and gender diversity, which is an almost perfect reflection of the U.S. population

The Basics of Democracy

The American Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

The Mass Media and Politics

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Elections

Political Participation and Voting Behavior

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Judiciary

Core Democratic Principles and Public Policy

Filters