Question 1

The largest subunits of the federal executive branch are called

Accepted Answer

A)  agencies. 
B)  units. 
C)  departments. 
D)  states. 
E)  collectives. 
A)  agencies. 
B)  units. 
C)  departments. 
D)  states. 
E)  collectives.

Question 2

The use of taxing and spending powers to shape the economy is part of ______ policy.

Accepted Answer

A)  fiscal 
B)  monetary 
C)  regulatory 
D)  distributive 
E)  redistributive 
A)  fiscal 
B)  monetary 
C)  regulatory 
D)  distributive 
E)  redistributive

Question 3

Which of the following is not a task of the Treasury Department?

Accepted Answer

A)  printing currency 
B)  managing the U.S. national debt 
C)  setting interest rates 
D)  administering fiscal policy 
E)  ensuring deposits individuals make at federally qualifying banks 
A)  printing currency 
B)  managing the U.S. national debt 
C)  setting interest rates 
D)  administering fiscal policy 
E)  ensuring deposits individuals make at federally qualifying banks

Question 4

Which of the following agencies' primary task is not the strengthening of the economy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Transportation 
B)  Commerce 
C)  Internal Revenue Service 
D)  Interior 
E)  Energy 
A)  Transportation 
B)  Commerce 
C)  Internal Revenue Service 
D)  Interior 
E)  Energy

Question 5

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 6

According to the text, what would be the most likely outcome if the federal government 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 the 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 the corporate interests. 
C)  The marketplace would fall into chaos. 
D)  The marketplace would globalize more quickly. 
E)  The marketplace would stabilize.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best describes the trend in government secrecy since 2001?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no way for the public to know how many classified documents there are in any given year because the government keeps this information secret. 
B)  There has been no change in the number of classified documents since 2001. 
C)  The number of classified documents has increased substantially since 2001, but the pages of material that have been declassified has increased sharply as well. 
D)  The number of classified documents has increased substantially since 2001 while the pages of material that have been declassified has declined sharply. 
E)  The number of classified documents has decreased substantially since 2001 while the number of pages of material that have been declassified has increased sharply. 
A)  There is no way for the public to know how many classified documents there are in any given year because the government keeps this information secret. 
B)  There has been no change in the number of classified documents since 2001. 
C)  The number of classified documents has increased substantially since 2001, but the pages of material that have been declassified has increased sharply as well. 
D)  The number of classified documents has increased substantially since 2001 while the pages of material that have been declassified has declined sharply. 
E)  The number of classified documents has decreased substantially since 2001 while the number of pages of material that have been declassified has increased sharply.

Question 8

The Freedom of Information Act is designed to

Accepted Answer

A)  lead to quicker filing of habeas corpus petitions. 
B)  make more national security documents available to the public. 
C)  prevent inefficiency and waste in government management. 
D)  expand the freedom of speech granted to government employees. 
E)  allow the government to acquire any information about a person to aid in a government investigation. 
A)  lead to quicker filing of habeas corpus petitions. 
B)  make more national security documents available to the public. 
C)  prevent inefficiency and waste in government management. 
D)  expand the freedom of speech granted to government employees. 
E)  allow the government to acquire any information about a person to aid in a government investigation.

Question 9

Executive privilege refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that the Senate never votes against presidential appointments to the executive branch. 
B)  the increasing power of the executive branch in determining fiscal policy. 
C)  the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president. 
D)  the right of presidents to eliminate government agencies without the approval of Congress. 
E)  the authority of members of the executive branch to formulate specific rules when implementing vague legislation. 
A)  the fact that the Senate never votes against presidential appointments to the executive branch. 
B)  the increasing power of the executive branch in determining fiscal policy. 
C)  the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president. 
D)  the right of presidents to eliminate government agencies without the approval of Congress. 
E)  the authority of members of the executive branch to formulate specific rules when implementing vague legislation.

Question 10

The controversy over the Patriot Act reveals the complications of balancing

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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 12

Which of the following is an agency created by Congress to assist it in overseeing the federal bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  General Accounting Office 
B)  Office of White House Affairs 
C)  Congressional Office on Legislative Affairs 
D)  Office of Management and the Budget 
E)  Congressional Oversight Office 
A)  General Accounting Office 
B)  Office of White House Affairs 
C)  Congressional Office on Legislative Affairs 
D)  Office of Management and the Budget 
E)  Congressional Oversight Office

Question 13

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

Question 14

The welfare reforms of the 1990s are a significant example of devolution in government policy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

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 16

The Civil Service Act of 1883 attempted to pattern government hiring after practices found in

Accepted Answer

A)  business. 
B)  the Catholic Church. 
C)  Congress. 
D)  local government. 
E)  the military. 
A)  business. 
B)  the Catholic Church. 
C)  Congress. 
D)  local government. 
E)  the military.

Question 17

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 18

What was the mission of the National Performance Review?

Accepted Answer

A)  to reorganize the federal bureaucracy to make it more efficient, more accountable, and less wasteful 
B)  to review each administrative agency every four years to determine whether it is necessary 
C)  to analyze the job performance of federal employees 
D)  to make recommendations to Congress on government reforms 
E)  to review whether or not the government is spending more money than it brings in 
A)  to reorganize the federal bureaucracy to make it more efficient, more accountable, and less wasteful 
B)  to review each administrative agency every four years to determine whether it is necessary 
C)  to analyze the job performance of federal employees 
D)  to make recommendations to Congress on government reforms 
E)  to review whether or not the government is spending more money than it brings in

Question 19

The creation of the U.S. Northern Command was important because

Accepted Answer

A)  it was the first time the Department of Defense had taken such an action without presidential approval. 
B)  it ultimately led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. 
C)  it unified, for the first time in American history, the Air Force, the Navy Department, and the War Department. 
D)  it breached the long-standing line between domestic law enforcement and foreign military operations for the first time. 
E)  it was the first time the Department of Defense had taken such an action without congressional approval. 
A)  it was the first time the Department of Defense had taken such an action without presidential approval. 
B)  it ultimately led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. 
C)  it unified, for the first time in American history, the Air Force, the Navy Department, and the War Department. 
D)  it breached the long-standing line between domestic law enforcement and foreign military operations for the first time. 
E)  it was the first time the Department of Defense had taken such an action without congressional approval.

Question 20

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 UN. 
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 UN. 
E)  the federal government is downsized by completely cutting wasteful programs.

Exam 14: Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The largest subunits of the federal executive branch are called

The use of taxing and spending powers to shape the economy is part of ______ policy.

Which of the following is not a task of the Treasury Department?

Which of the following agencies' primary task is not the strengthening of the economy?

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

According to the text, what would be the most likely outcome if the federal government were to cease all economic regulation?

Which of the following statements best describes the trend in government secrecy since 2001?

The Freedom of Information Act is designed to

Executive privilege refers to

The controversy over the Patriot Act reveals the complications of balancing

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

Which of the following is an agency created by Congress to assist it in overseeing the federal bureaucracy?

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

The welfare reforms of the 1990s are a significant example of devolution in government policy.

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

The Civil Service Act of 1883 attempted to pattern government hiring after practices found in

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

What was the mission of the National Performance Review?

The creation of the U.S. Northern Command was important because

Devolution describes a process through which

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