Question 1

What is the main purpose served by government corporations?

Accepted Answer

A)  generating profit for the federal government 
B)  providing services not fully trusted to the private sector 
C)  breaking up monopolies 
D)  expanding international trade 
E)  regulating sectors of the economy 
A)  generating profit for the federal government 
B)  providing services not fully trusted to the private sector 
C)  breaking up monopolies 
D)  expanding international trade 
E)  regulating sectors of the economy B

Question 2

What function is the National Labor Relations board carrying out when it settles disputes between labor and management on federal labor laws?

Accepted Answer

A)  creating regulations 
B)  adjudicating/engaging in quasi- judicial processes 
C)  providing expert advice 
D)  providing a check on congressional power 
E)  providing a check on judicial power 
A)  creating regulations 
B)  adjudicating/engaging in quasi- judicial processes 
C)  providing expert advice 
D)  providing a check on congressional power 
E)  providing a check on judicial power B

Question 3

Define and give an example of a government corporation. Why are some services provided by government corporations, whereas others are left to the private sector?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define a government corporation as a corporation created and funded by the government to provide some public service.
2. Provide one or more examples, such as the Amtrak and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
3. Explain the main factor that leads the government to create these corporations rather than rely solely on the private sector: that they typically provide services that would be insufficiently provided by private companies.

Question 4

In a rare move, the senate rejected President George H.W. Bush's nomination of __________ for a defense post.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a rare move, the senate rejected...

Question 5

The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased violence in the southeastern United States 
B)  heightened tensions with European nations 
C)  the terrorist attacks on 9/11 
D)  a movement by the Tea Party 
E)  a legislative mandate issued in 1995 
A)  increased violence in the southeastern United States 
B)  heightened tensions with European nations 
C)  the terrorist attacks on 9/11 
D)  a movement by the Tea Party 
E)  a legislative mandate issued in 1995

Question 6

Discuss the evolution of the federal bureaucracy from the spoils system through the creation of the civil service system.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Explain that

Question 7

What event served as a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  the growth of the Republican party in the 1880s 
B)  the expansion of the federal bureaucracy in the 1880s 
C)  the assassination of James Garfield in 1881 
D)  the election of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 
E)  the economic depression of the 1890s 
A)  the growth of the Republican party in the 1880s 
B)  the expansion of the federal bureaucracy in the 1880s 
C)  the assassination of James Garfield in 1881 
D)  the election of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 
E)  the economic depression of the 1890s

Question 8

Which law designates the steps that federal agencies must follow in issuing rules and regulations?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Administrative Procedure Act 
B)  the Freedom of Information Act 
C)  the Hatch Act 
D)  the Pendleton Act 
E)  the Privacy Act 
A)  the Administrative Procedure Act 
B)  the Freedom of Information Act 
C)  the Hatch Act 
D)  the Pendleton Act 
E)  the Privacy Act

Question 9

Which of Max Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy is illustrated by a government agency in which the greatest authority resides with the agency head?

Accepted Answer

A)  administrative discretion 
B)  the merit principle 
C)  division of labor/task specialization 
D)  hierarchy/chain of command 
E)  goal orientation 
A)  administrative discretion 
B)  the merit principle 
C)  division of labor/task specialization 
D)  hierarchy/chain of command 
E)  goal orientation

Question 10

How does the president exercise control over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  by confirming federal appointees 
B)  by nominating federal appointees 
C)  by signing executive agreements 
D)  by creating or abolishing agencies 
E)  by conducting oversight hearings 
A)  by confirming federal appointees 
B)  by nominating federal appointees 
C)  by signing executive agreements 
D)  by creating or abolishing agencies 
E)  by conducting oversight hearings

Question 11

A civil service employee has a dispute with a coworker and wants to file a complaint. Which office will review the case?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Office of Dispute Resolution 
B)  the Employee Assistance Program 
C)  the Merit Systems Protection Board 
D)  the Office of Personnel Management 
E)  the Civil Service Commission 
A)  the Office of Dispute Resolution 
B)  the Employee Assistance Program 
C)  the Merit Systems Protection Board 
D)  the Office of Personnel Management 
E)  the Civil Service Commission

Question 12

Which president is known for reviving the constitutional doctrine known as the unitary executive?

Accepted Answer

A)  President Nixon 
B)  President Reagan 
C)  President George W. Bush 
D)  President Clinton 
E)  President Obama 
A)  President Nixon 
B)  President Reagan 
C)  President George W. Bush 
D)  President Clinton 
E)  President Obama

Question 13

Distinguish between independent agencies and independent regulatory commissions. Be sure to provide examples of each.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define indepe

Question 14

Which executive agency is responsible for creating tests and advertising and filling civil service vacancies?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Merit Systems Protection Board 
B)  the Office of Personnel Management 
C)  the Executive Staffing Agency 
D)  the Civil Service Bureau 
E)  the Civil Service Executive Academy 
A)  the Merit Systems Protection Board 
B)  the Office of Personnel Management 
C)  the Executive Staffing Agency 
D)  the Civil Service Bureau 
E)  the Civil Service Executive Academy

Question 15

Which agency was responsible for preventing a widespread and deadly case of food poisoning that originated from fruit grown in Colorado?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Environmental Protection Agency 
B)  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
C)  the Securities and Exchange Commission 
D)  the Tennessee Valley Authority 
E)  .the National Science Foundation 
A)  the Environmental Protection Agency 
B)  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
C)  the Securities and Exchange Commission 
D)  the Tennessee Valley Authority 
E)  .the National Science Foundation

Question 16

Independent regulatory commissions differ from independent agencies in that they are less subject to presidential control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Congress and the president share which of the following powers over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the power to influence budgets 
B)  the power to issue executive orders 
C)  the power to sign executive agreements 
D)  the power to hold oversight hearings 
E)  the power to use inspectors general 
A)  the power to influence budgets 
B)  the power to issue executive orders 
C)  the power to sign executive agreements 
D)  the power to hold oversight hearings 
E)  the power to use inspectors general

Question 18

After levees failed in New Orleans in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, __________ faced heavy scrutiny for its delayed efforts to save storm victims and provide aid to the area.

Accepted Answer

the Federa

Question 19

How do departments differ from independent agencies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Department heads are appointed by the president; agency heads are not. 
B)  Agency heads are part of the president's cabinet; department heads are not. 
C)  Department heads are part of the president's cabinet; agency heads are not. 
D)  Departments cover a wider range of functions than agencies. 
E)  Agencies are typically larger than and include several departments. 
A)  Department heads are appointed by the president; agency heads are not. 
B)  Agency heads are part of the president's cabinet; department heads are not. 
C)  Department heads are part of the president's cabinet; agency heads are not. 
D)  Departments cover a wider range of functions than agencies. 
E)  Agencies are typically larger than and include several departments.

Question 20

What is implementation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the process by which a law or policy is put into practice 
B)  the development of rules governing the operation of a government program 
C)  a set of procedures executive branch agencies must follow when issuing rules 
D)  the process by which government agencies settle legal disputes 
E)  a set of rules enforcing government agreements with private contractors 
A)  the process by which a law or policy is put into practice 
B)  the development of rules governing the operation of a government program 
C)  a set of procedures executive branch agencies must follow when issuing rules 
D)  the process by which government agencies settle legal disputes 
E)  a set of rules enforcing government agreements with private contractors

What is the main purpose served by government corporations?

What function is the National Labor Relations board carrying out when it settles disputes between labor and management on federal labor laws?

Define and give an example of a government corporation. Why are some services provided by government corporations, whereas others are left to the private sector?

In a rare move, the senate rejected President George H.W. Bush's nomination of __________ for a defense post.

The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to which of the following?

Discuss the evolution of the federal bureaucracy from the spoils system through the creation of the civil service system.

What event served as a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act?

Which law designates the steps that federal agencies must follow in issuing rules and regulations?

Which of Max Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy is illustrated by a government agency in which the greatest authority resides with the agency head?

How does the president exercise control over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

A civil service employee has a dispute with a coworker and wants to file a complaint. Which office will review the case?

Which president is known for reviving the constitutional doctrine known as the unitary executive?

Distinguish between independent agencies and independent regulatory commissions. Be sure to provide examples of each.

Which executive agency is responsible for creating tests and advertising and filling civil service vacancies?

Which agency was responsible for preventing a widespread and deadly case of food poisoning that originated from fruit grown in Colorado?

Independent regulatory commissions differ from independent agencies in that they are less subject to presidential control.

Congress and the president share which of the following powers over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

After levees failed in New Orleans in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, __________ faced heavy scrutiny for its delayed efforts to save storm victims and provide aid to the area.

How do departments differ from independent agencies?

What is implementation?

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Public Opinion

The News Media

Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 13: The Executive Branch

What is the main purpose served by government corporations?

What function is the National Labor Relations board carrying out when it settles disputes between labor and management on federal labor laws?

Define and give an example of a government corporation. Why are some services provided by government corporations, whereas others are left to the private sector?

In a rare move, the senate rejected President George H.W. Bush's nomination of __________ for a defense post.

The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to which of the following?

Discuss the evolution of the federal bureaucracy from the spoils system through the creation of the civil service system.

What event served as a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act?

Which law designates the steps that federal agencies must follow in issuing rules and regulations?

Which of Max Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy is illustrated by a government agency in which the greatest authority resides with the agency head?

How does the president exercise control over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

A civil service employee has a dispute with a coworker and wants to file a complaint. Which office will review the case?

Which president is known for reviving the constitutional doctrine known as the unitary executive?

Distinguish between independent agencies and independent regulatory commissions. Be sure to provide examples of each.

Which executive agency is responsible for creating tests and advertising and filling civil service vacancies?

Which agency was responsible for preventing a widespread and deadly case of food poisoning that originated from fruit grown in Colorado?

Independent regulatory commissions differ from independent agencies in that they are less subject to presidential control.

Congress and the president share which of the following powers over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

After levees failed in New Orleans in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, __________ faced heavy scrutiny for its delayed efforts to save storm victims and provide aid to the area.

How do departments differ from independent agencies?

What is implementation?

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Public Opinion

The News Media

Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters