Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes bureaucrats?

Accepted Answer

A) Bureaucrats engage in a wide range of activities that are relevant to the quality of democracy in the United States and affect how laws and regulations work. 
B)  Bureaucrats are inefficient and lack proper skills to work effectively. 
C)  Most bureaucrats are hired based on their political party affiliation. 
D)  Bureaucrats tend to be resistant to leadership by Congress and the president. 
E)  none of the above 
A) Bureaucrats engage in a wide range of activities that are relevant to the quality of democracy in the United States and affect how laws and regulations work. 
B)  Bureaucrats are inefficient and lack proper skills to work effectively. 
C)  Most bureaucrats are hired based on their political party affiliation. 
D)  Bureaucrats tend to be resistant to leadership by Congress and the president. 
E)  none of the above

Question 2

What attitudes do most Americans have towards the executive branch bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Most Americans do not trust government b

Question 3

Which of the following is TRUE about civil servants?

Accepted Answer

A)  Women and minorities are well represented. 
B)  Civil Servants tend to be somewhat more Democratic and slightly more liberal than the average American. 
C)  Women and minorities are over-represented in the very lowest civil service grades. 
D)  Women and minorities are under-represented in the highest civil service grades. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  Women and minorities are well represented. 
B)  Civil Servants tend to be somewhat more Democratic and slightly more liberal than the average American. 
C)  Women and minorities are over-represented in the very lowest civil service grades. 
D)  Women and minorities are under-represented in the highest civil service grades. 
E)  all of the above

Question 4

What is patronage? Do we still have it?

Accepted Answer

Patronage is when the winning party in a

Question 5

How is "appropriation" defined?

Accepted Answer

A)  as the legal authority for a federal agency to spend money from the U.S. Treasury 
B)  as the process of turning over certain government functions to the U.S. Treasury 
C)  as an example of incoherent organization 
D)  as the branch of the federal government that carries out the division of funds 
E)  as a cost-benefit analysis 
A)  as the legal authority for a federal agency to spend money from the U.S. Treasury 
B)  as the process of turning over certain government functions to the U.S. Treasury 
C)  as an example of incoherent organization 
D)  as the branch of the federal government that carries out the division of funds 
E)  as a cost-benefit analysis

Question 6

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Accepted Answer

A)  are run by commissioners. 
B)  are outside the department structure of the federal bureaucracy 
C)  regulate aspects of the economy. 
D)  are supposed to promote the public interest. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  are run by commissioners. 
B)  are outside the department structure of the federal bureaucracy 
C)  regulate aspects of the economy. 
D)  are supposed to promote the public interest. 
E)  all of the above

Question 7

Figure 13.2 reveals that

Accepted Answer

A)  the bureaucracy is an independent branch of government. 
B)  the bureaucracy is hierarchically subordinate to the legislative branch. 
C)  the bureaucracy is hierarchically subordinate to the judicial branch. 
D)  the bureaucracy is hierarchically subordinate to the executive branch. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  the bureaucracy is an independent branch of government. 
B)  the bureaucracy is hierarchically subordinate to the legislative branch. 
C)  the bureaucracy is hierarchically subordinate to the judicial branch. 
D)  the bureaucracy is hierarchically subordinate to the executive branch. 
E)  all of the above

Question 8

The size of the federal bureaucracy is a popular topic, among presidents, legislators, and the public. How big is the federal bureaucracy and how has its size changed in recent years? What efforts have been made to control the size of the federal bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The size of the federal bureaucracy is i

Question 9

_______________ are agencies that operate in a market setting and are organized very much like a private company.

Accepted Answer

A)  Government corporations 
B)  Bureaucracies 
C)  Departments 
D)  Agencies 
E)  Independent executive agencies 
A)  Government corporations 
B)  Bureaucracies 
C)  Departments 
D)  Agencies 
E)  Independent executive agencies

Question 10

Why are presidents so frustrated by the bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The president is the only one with control over the actions of the bureaucrats because Congress will not accept a share of the responsibility. 
B)  Bureaucratic agencies are so dependent on the president that the leadership tasks may become overwhelming. 
C)  Tricky question, professor. Presidents are NOT frustrated by the bureaucracy. 
D)  The sheer size and complexity of the executive branch makes it difficult to be aware of bureaucratic actions. 
E)  bureaucrats are not typically influenced by interests groups, which limits presidents' indirect effects. 
A)  The president is the only one with control over the actions of the bureaucrats because Congress will not accept a share of the responsibility. 
B)  Bureaucratic agencies are so dependent on the president that the leadership tasks may become overwhelming. 
C)  Tricky question, professor. Presidents are NOT frustrated by the bureaucracy. 
D)  The sheer size and complexity of the executive branch makes it difficult to be aware of bureaucratic actions. 
E)  bureaucrats are not typically influenced by interests groups, which limits presidents' indirect effects.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  American civil servants do not enjoy the high status of the civil servants in Western European nations. 
B)  The status of American civil servants varies significantly over time. 
C)  Compared to Western European nations, American civil servants enjoy high status. 
D)  The American bureaucracy, like the private sector, is viewed very positively by most Americans. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  American civil servants do not enjoy the high status of the civil servants in Western European nations. 
B)  The status of American civil servants varies significantly over time. 
C)  Compared to Western European nations, American civil servants enjoy high status. 
D)  The American bureaucracy, like the private sector, is viewed very positively by most Americans. 
E)  none of the above

Question 12

Under the patronage system, government workers earn their positions based on merit and expertise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Primarily, the federal bureaucracy has grown in size over the years to meet a wide range of needs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Deregulatory rhetoric often helps federal agencies, like the Consumer Product Safety Board, do their jobs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

In general, top-level political appointees tend to remain at their jobs through the president's tenure in office.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What are the two ways to scale down the federal government's size?

Accepted Answer

A)  slimming down government activities or transferring them away from the government 
B)  creating offices to manage multiple agencies or transferring those offices away from the government 
C)  reducing the funds available to the agencies or slimming down the government 
D)  reducing the funds available and streamlining the process of managing the agencies 
E)  reducing the funds available to the agencies or creating special commissions to reduce government size 
A)  slimming down government activities or transferring them away from the government 
B)  creating offices to manage multiple agencies or transferring those offices away from the government 
C)  reducing the funds available to the agencies or slimming down the government 
D)  reducing the funds available and streamlining the process of managing the agencies 
E)  reducing the funds available to the agencies or creating special commissions to reduce government size

Question 17

The senior executive service

Accepted Answer

A) was established to ensure that presidents could appoint who they wanted to top bureaucratic positions. 
B)  gave rise to the spoils system. 
C)  is comprised of mainly patronage positions. 
D)  was originally created to have highly skilled people serve as a bridge between political appointees and the rest of the civil service. 
E)  none of the above 
A) was established to ensure that presidents could appoint who they wanted to top bureaucratic positions. 
B)  gave rise to the spoils system. 
C)  is comprised of mainly patronage positions. 
D)  was originally created to have highly skilled people serve as a bridge between political appointees and the rest of the civil service. 
E)  none of the above

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a tool of presidential control over the executive branch bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the power of appointment 
B)  the power to influence agency budgets 
C)  presidential prestige and the bully pulpit 
D)  the power to set personnel policies 
E)  all of the above 
A)  the power of appointment 
B)  the power to influence agency budgets 
C)  presidential prestige and the bully pulpit 
D)  the power to set personnel policies 
E)  all of the above

Question 19

The American bureaucracy

Accepted Answer

A)  is characterized by clear lines of control, responsibility, and accountability. 
B)  faces fewer statutory restrictions and less legislative control than bureaucracies in other democratic countries. 
C)  does not take the standard pyramidal form, as it does in other democratic countries. 
D)  is more completely dominated by executive influence than is true of bureaucracies in other democratic nations. 
E)  is staffed mostly by patronage, not merit-based positions. 
A)  is characterized by clear lines of control, responsibility, and accountability. 
B)  faces fewer statutory restrictions and less legislative control than bureaucracies in other democratic countries. 
C)  does not take the standard pyramidal form, as it does in other democratic countries. 
D)  is more completely dominated by executive influence than is true of bureaucracies in other democratic nations. 
E)  is staffed mostly by patronage, not merit-based positions.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true about the Constitution and federal bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A) The Constitution neither specifies the number and kinds of departments to be established nor describes other bureaucratic agencies. 
B)  The Constitution is clear that the number of federal departments must be created in proportion to the overall population of the United States. 
C)  The Constitution is clear that the number of federal departments must be created relative to the different populations of the several states. 
D)  The framers did not intend to leave questions about the bureaucracy to the discretion of the executive and legislative branches of government. 
E)  none of the above 
A) The Constitution neither specifies the number and kinds of departments to be established nor describes other bureaucratic agencies. 
B)  The Constitution is clear that the number of federal departments must be created in proportion to the overall population of the United States. 
C)  The Constitution is clear that the number of federal departments must be created relative to the different populations of the several states. 
D)  The framers did not intend to leave questions about the bureaucracy to the discretion of the executive and legislative branches of government. 
E)  none of the above

Which of the following statements best describes bureaucrats?

What attitudes do most Americans have towards the executive branch bureaucracy?

Which of the following is TRUE about civil servants?

What is patronage? Do we still have it?

How is "appropriation" defined?

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Figure 13.2 reveals that

The size of the federal bureaucracy is a popular topic, among presidents, legislators, and the public. How big is the federal bureaucracy and how has its size changed in recent years? What efforts have been made to control the size of the federal bureaucracy?

_______________ are agencies that operate in a market setting and are organized very much like a private company.

Why are presidents so frustrated by the bureaucracy?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Under the patronage system, government workers earn their positions based on merit and expertise.

Primarily, the federal bureaucracy has grown in size over the years to meet a wide range of needs.

Deregulatory rhetoric often helps federal agencies, like the Consumer Product Safety Board, do their jobs.

In general, top-level political appointees tend to remain at their jobs through the president's tenure in office.

What are the two ways to scale down the federal government's size?

The senior executive service

Which of the following is NOT a tool of presidential control over the executive branch bureaucracy?

The American bureaucracy

Which of the following statements is true about the Constitution and federal bureaucracy?

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

Which of the following statements best describes bureaucrats?

What attitudes do most Americans have towards the executive branch bureaucracy?

Which of the following is TRUE about civil servants?

What is patronage? Do we still have it?

How is "appropriation" defined?

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Figure 13.2 reveals that

The size of the federal bureaucracy is a popular topic, among presidents, legislators, and the public. How big is the federal bureaucracy and how has its size changed in recent years? What efforts have been made to control the size of the federal bureaucracy?

_______________ are agencies that operate in a market setting and are organized very much like a private company.

Why are presidents so frustrated by the bureaucracy?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Under the patronage system, government workers earn their positions based on merit and expertise.

Primarily, the federal bureaucracy has grown in size over the years to meet a wide range of needs.

Deregulatory rhetoric often helps federal agencies, like the Consumer Product Safety Board, do their jobs.

In general, top-level political appointees tend to remain at their jobs through the president's tenure in office.

What are the two ways to scale down the federal government's size?

The senior executive service

Which of the following is NOT a tool of presidential control over the executive branch bureaucracy?

The American bureaucracy

Which of the following statements is true about the Constitution and federal bureaucracy?

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