Question 1

"Getting government off our backs" refers to the burden of

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress. 
B)  cost-benefit analysis. 
C)  bureaucracy. 
D)  reinventing government 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Congress. 
B)  cost-benefit analysis. 
C)  bureaucracy. 
D)  reinventing government 
E)  none of the above

Question 2

Which of the following is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bureaucrats in the executive branch are never given discretion. 
B)  When bureaucrats enforce vague laws, they must refer back to the original legislation to determine the intentions of Congress. 
C)  Bureaucrats often make rules that serve as law. 
D)  Presidents can be impeached for allowing bureaucrats to make law. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Bureaucrats in the executive branch are never given discretion. 
B)  When bureaucrats enforce vague laws, they must refer back to the original legislation to determine the intentions of Congress. 
C)  Bureaucrats often make rules that serve as law. 
D)  Presidents can be impeached for allowing bureaucrats to make law. 
E)  none of the above

Question 3

What is the relationship between the press and the bureaucracy? Are there any ways in which the press might be more influential over the bureaucracy than the presidency or Congress? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The relationship between the press and t

Question 4

How might the federal bureaucracy be reformed?

Accepted Answer

There are several potential ways in whic

Question 5

Because bureaucrats are hired, not elected, critics openly question the democratic nature of the federal bureaucracy. Is this criticism justified? Why or why not? What instruments are in place to ensure some democratic responsiveness by bureaucrats?

Accepted Answer

The criticism of the democratic nature o

Question 6

A whistleblower is

Accepted Answer

A)  a bureaucrat who reports abuses of power, corruption, financial mismanagement, or other official malfeasance. 
B)  an official whose job is to hear citizen complaints about bureaucratic action or inaction and to seek redress of grievances. 
C)  a congressional investigator that draws attention to abuses of power in the executive branch. 
D)  a common legislative practice in which votes will be traded in exchange for bureaucratic favors or help. 
E)  a presidential "spy" who reports to the president about how well agencies are implementing presidential directives. 
A)  a bureaucrat who reports abuses of power, corruption, financial mismanagement, or other official malfeasance. 
B)  an official whose job is to hear citizen complaints about bureaucratic action or inaction and to seek redress of grievances. 
C)  a congressional investigator that draws attention to abuses of power in the executive branch. 
D)  a common legislative practice in which votes will be traded in exchange for bureaucratic favors or help. 
E)  a presidential "spy" who reports to the president about how well agencies are implementing presidential directives.

Question 7

One criticism of the system of policy implementation is that Congress delegates too much lawmaking authority to the bureaucracy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

On average, top political appointees stay in office about

Accepted Answer

A)  6 months. 
B)  12 months. 
C)  22 months. 
D)  48 months. 
E)  72 months. 
A)  6 months. 
B)  12 months. 
C)  22 months. 
D)  48 months. 
E)  72 months.

Question 9

What power does the National Labor Relations Board have?

Accepted Answer

A)  the power to conduct quasi-judicial proceedings in which disputes are involved 
B)  the power to create laws to prevent abuses against workers 
C)  the power to raise taxes to pay for their department 
D)  the power to execute the law 
E)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  the power to conduct quasi-judicial proceedings in which disputes are involved 
B)  the power to create laws to prevent abuses against workers 
C)  the power to raise taxes to pay for their department 
D)  the power to execute the law 
E)  All of the above are correct.

Question 10

Discuss the difference between merit-based civil servants and political appointees.

Accepted Answer

Merit-based civil servants are individua

Question 11

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans tend to be more cynical about government bureaucracy than are the French, British, and Germans. 
B)  American governmental bureaucracy has more leeway than its European counterparts. 
C)  High positions in the American bureaucracy have more job security than European counterparts. 
D)  American governmental bureaucracies have only one boss, something that is uncommon in European bureaucracies. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Americans tend to be more cynical about government bureaucracy than are the French, British, and Germans. 
B)  American governmental bureaucracy has more leeway than its European counterparts. 
C)  High positions in the American bureaucracy have more job security than European counterparts. 
D)  American governmental bureaucracies have only one boss, something that is uncommon in European bureaucracies. 
E)  none of the above

Question 12

The highest policymaking positions in the U.S. executive branch

Accepted Answer

A) are closed to civil servants. 
B)  require merit exams. 
C)  are filled with people with elite educations. 
D)  are filled with long-term appointees. 
E)  are elected. 
A) are closed to civil servants. 
B)  require merit exams. 
C)  are filled with people with elite educations. 
D)  are filled with long-term appointees. 
E)  are elected.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the purpose of introducing cost-benefit analysis into the federal bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  To reduce the number of rules created by federal agencies 
B)  To place restrictions on federal agencies' budgets 
C)  To decide which federal agencies were really necessary 
D)  To measure how effective federal agencies were 
E)  To give presidents more direct influence over bureaucratic decision-making 
A)  To reduce the number of rules created by federal agencies 
B)  To place restrictions on federal agencies' budgets 
C)  To decide which federal agencies were really necessary 
D)  To measure how effective federal agencies were 
E)  To give presidents more direct influence over bureaucratic decision-making

Question 14

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, many of the most talented people in our society tend to stay away from working for government because civil

Accepted Answer

A)  service exams are too hard. 
B)  servants have so little prestige. 
C)  servants are required to have advanced degrees. 
D)  servants receive few benefits. 
E)  servants receive inadequate pay for their jobs. 
A)  service exams are too hard. 
B)  servants have so little prestige. 
C)  servants are required to have advanced degrees. 
D)  servants receive few benefits. 
E)  servants receive inadequate pay for their jobs.

Question 15

The executive branch bureaucracy in the United States is an organizational hodgepodge, mostly because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Constitution designed it that way. 
B)  of the many court decisions altering its organization. 
C)  it was built piece by piece. 
D)  of congressional oversight 
E)  all of the above 
A)  the Constitution designed it that way. 
B)  of the many court decisions altering its organization. 
C)  it was built piece by piece. 
D)  of congressional oversight 
E)  all of the above

Question 16

For the most part, the American public's attitude toward the federal bureaucracy is

Accepted Answer

A)  focused on issues rather than agencies. 
B)  vigilant and influential. 
C)  disinterested. 
D)  of more importance to the president than to anyone else. 
E)  supportive. 
A)  focused on issues rather than agencies. 
B)  vigilant and influential. 
C)  disinterested. 
D)  of more importance to the president than to anyone else. 
E)  supportive.

Question 17

Government corporations are

Accepted Answer

A)  headed by cabinet-level secretaries, appointed by the president and approved by the Senate, who carry out the essential governmental functions. 
B)  created to compete with private enterprise in order to reduce rates and stimulate productivity. 
C)  responsible for regulating sectors of the economy where the free market does not work properly to protect the public interest. 
D)  usually created to perform some important economic activity that private investors are unwilling or unable to perform. 
E)  separated from the rest of government to protect them from political interference. 
A)  headed by cabinet-level secretaries, appointed by the president and approved by the Senate, who carry out the essential governmental functions. 
B)  created to compete with private enterprise in order to reduce rates and stimulate productivity. 
C)  responsible for regulating sectors of the economy where the free market does not work properly to protect the public interest. 
D)  usually created to perform some important economic activity that private investors are unwilling or unable to perform. 
E)  separated from the rest of government to protect them from political interference.

Question 18

Among the first cabinet departments created was the Department of

Accepted Answer

A)  Agriculture. 
B)  Interior. 
C)  State. 
D)  Justice. 
E)  Transportation. 
A)  Agriculture. 
B)  Interior. 
C)  State. 
D)  Justice. 
E)  Transportation.

Question 19

Which of these is NOT a way that presidents can exercise their authority over the bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The president can fire most civil servants. 
B)  A popular president's wishes are hard to resist. 
C)  The president can use his power of appointment. 
D)  The president can use his power as chief budget officer of the federal government. 
E)  The existence of a crisis or widely shared national commitment. 
A)  The president can fire most civil servants. 
B)  A popular president's wishes are hard to resist. 
C)  The president can use his power of appointment. 
D)  The president can use his power as chief budget officer of the federal government. 
E)  The existence of a crisis or widely shared national commitment.

Question 20

In the timeline describing the creation of executive branch departments and selected agencies, independent commissions, and corporations, which of these was founded earliest?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Department of War 
B)  the Department of Justice 
C)  the Department of Commerce 
D)  the Department of Homeland Security 
E)  the Civil Rights Commission 
A)  the Department of War 
B)  the Department of Justice 
C)  the Department of Commerce 
D)  the Department of Homeland Security 
E)  the Civil Rights Commission

"Getting government off our backs" refers to the burden of

Which of the following is TRUE?

What is the relationship between the press and the bureaucracy? Are there any ways in which the press might be more influential over the bureaucracy than the presidency or Congress? Why or why not?

How might the federal bureaucracy be reformed?

Because bureaucrats are hired, not elected, critics openly question the democratic nature of the federal bureaucracy. Is this criticism justified? Why or why not? What instruments are in place to ensure some democratic responsiveness by bureaucrats?

A whistleblower is

One criticism of the system of policy implementation is that Congress delegates too much lawmaking authority to the bureaucracy.

On average, top political appointees stay in office about

What power does the National Labor Relations Board have?

Discuss the difference between merit-based civil servants and political appointees.

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The highest policymaking positions in the U.S. executive branch

Which of the following best describes the purpose of introducing cost-benefit analysis into the federal bureaucracy?

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, many of the most talented people in our society tend to stay away from working for government because civil

The executive branch bureaucracy in the United States is an organizational hodgepodge, mostly because

For the most part, the American public's attitude toward the federal bureaucracy is

Government corporations are

Among the first cabinet departments created was the Department of

Which of these is NOT a way that presidents can exercise their authority over the bureaucracy?

In the timeline describing the creation of executive branch departments and selected agencies, independent commissions, and corporations, which of these was founded earliest?

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 13: The Executive Branch

"Getting government off our backs" refers to the burden of

Which of the following is TRUE?

What is the relationship between the press and the bureaucracy? Are there any ways in which the press might be more influential over the bureaucracy than the presidency or Congress? Why or why not?

How might the federal bureaucracy be reformed?

Because bureaucrats are hired, not elected, critics openly question the democratic nature of the federal bureaucracy. Is this criticism justified? Why or why not? What instruments are in place to ensure some democratic responsiveness by bureaucrats?

A whistleblower is

One criticism of the system of policy implementation is that Congress delegates too much lawmaking authority to the bureaucracy.

On average, top political appointees stay in office about

What power does the National Labor Relations Board have?

Discuss the difference between merit-based civil servants and political appointees.

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The highest policymaking positions in the U.S. executive branch

Which of the following best describes the purpose of introducing cost-benefit analysis into the federal bureaucracy?

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, many of the most talented people in our society tend to stay away from working for government because civil

The executive branch bureaucracy in the United States is an organizational hodgepodge, mostly because

For the most part, the American public's attitude toward the federal bureaucracy is

Government corporations are

Among the first cabinet departments created was the Department of

Which of these is NOT a way that presidents can exercise their authority over the bureaucracy?

In the timeline describing the creation of executive branch departments and selected agencies, independent commissions, and corporations, which of these was founded earliest?

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters