Question 1

Which of the following is not a way in which Congress can exercise oversight?

Accepted Answer

A)  individual constituency case work 
B)  committee hearings and investigations 
C)  budgeting process 
D)  government agencies such as the GAO and the CBO 
E)  having members of Congress work part-time for a particular agency that is struggling to meet the demands Congress has placed on it 
A)  individual constituency case work 
B)  committee hearings and investigations 
C)  budgeting process 
D)  government agencies such as the GAO and the CBO 
E)  having members of Congress work part-time for a particular agency that is struggling to meet the demands Congress has placed on it

Question 2

Devolution may lead to disparities in services throughout the different states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

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 4

Which of the following statements about the merit system is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Every member and official of a government agency has been appointed as part of the merit system. 
B)  The merit system establishes competitive exams for jobs. 
C)  The merit system gives bureaucrats job protection. 
D)  The merit system in federal employment originated in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. 
E)  The merit system stipulates that appointees to public office must be qualified for the job to which they are appointed. 
A)  Every member and official of a government agency has been appointed as part of the merit system. 
B)  The merit system establishes competitive exams for jobs. 
C)  The merit system gives bureaucrats job protection. 
D)  The merit system in federal employment originated in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. 
E)  The merit system stipulates that appointees to public office must be qualified for the job to which they are appointed.

Question 5

Independent agencies are important components of Cabinet departments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Individual members of Congress can discover questions of public responsibility when engaged in

Accepted Answer

A)  a filibuster. 
B)  constituent case work. 
C)  activities related to the work of a conference committee. 
D)  a party caucus. 
E)  a markup session. 
A)  a filibuster. 
B)  constituent case work. 
C)  activities related to the work of a conference committee. 
D)  a party caucus. 
E)  a markup session.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about administrative rule making is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  All federal rules must be published in the Federal Register. 
B)  Both houses of Congress must formally approve all federal rules. 
C)  All federal rules must undergo a period of public comment. 
D)  All federal rules must prepare "environmental impact statements." 
E)  The length of time to develop an administrative rule from proposal to actual publication in the Federal Register increased between the 1970s and 1980s. 
A)  All federal rules must be published in the Federal Register. 
B)  Both houses of Congress must formally approve all federal rules. 
C)  All federal rules must undergo a period of public comment. 
D)  All federal rules must prepare "environmental impact statements." 
E)  The length of time to develop an administrative rule from proposal to actual publication in the Federal Register increased between the 1970s and 1980s.

Question 8

Civil servants were given legal protection against being fired without a show of cause in order to

Accepted Answer

A)  meet the Constitution's strict requirements for the treatment of public employees. 
B)  force the bureaucracy to respond more to political pressures from parties, interest groups, and elected officials. 
C)  cleanse bureaucracy of political interference while upgrading performance. 
D)  end the abuses of the merit system. 
E)  enhance the public's trust in bureaucracy. 
A)  meet the Constitution's strict requirements for the treatment of public employees. 
B)  force the bureaucracy to respond more to political pressures from parties, interest groups, and elected officials. 
C)  cleanse bureaucracy of political interference while upgrading performance. 
D)  end the abuses of the merit system. 
E)  enhance the public's trust in bureaucracy.

Question 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

Which statement about regulatory agencies is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Since the 1990s, approximately ten new regulatory agencies have been created by Congress. 
B)  No new regulatory programs have been established since the 1970s. 
C)  The last new regulatory agency was created in 1945. 
D)  In 1996, the last federal regulatory agency was terminated by Congress. 
E)  Since the 1960s, all new regulatory agencies have been placed outside existing departments and are not responsible to the president. 
A)  Since the 1990s, approximately ten new regulatory agencies have been created by Congress. 
B)  No new regulatory programs have been established since the 1970s. 
C)  The last new regulatory agency was created in 1945. 
D)  In 1996, the last federal regulatory agency was terminated by Congress. 
E)  Since the 1960s, all new regulatory agencies have been placed outside existing departments and are not responsible to the president.

Question 13

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 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The attempt of bureaucracies to translate laws into specific rules and actions is called

Accepted Answer

A)  adjudication. 
B)  regulation. 
C)  deregulation. 
D)  implementation. 
E)  rule making. 
A)  adjudication. 
B)  regulation. 
C)  deregulation. 
D)  implementation. 
E)  rule making.

Question 16

Which of the following was a way in which President Obama attempted to uphold his campaign promise to reduce government secrecy?

Accepted Answer

A)  making sure that every bill that was passed by Congress during his first term was put up on the White House website to be viewed by the public for at least five days before holding a vote 
B)  invoking the state secrets privilege to prevent lawsuits related to warrantless wiretapping and torture from going to trial 
C)  issuing an executive order designed to promote more rapid declassification of secret documents 
D)  repealing the USA PATRIOT Act 
E)  releasing a report by the Health and Human Services Department that indicated the health care reform law would actually increase the cost of health care and impose higher costs on consumers, even though this would make it harder for Congress to pass the bill 
A)  making sure that every bill that was passed by Congress during his first term was put up on the White House website to be viewed by the public for at least five days before holding a vote 
B)  invoking the state secrets privilege to prevent lawsuits related to warrantless wiretapping and torture from going to trial 
C)  issuing an executive order designed to promote more rapid declassification of secret documents 
D)  repealing the USA PATRIOT Act 
E)  releasing a report by the Health and Human Services Department that indicated the health care reform law would actually increase the cost of health care and impose higher costs on consumers, even though this would make it harder for Congress to pass the bill

Question 17

The most significant example of devolution in recent decades has been in the area of

Accepted Answer

A)  homeland security. 
B)  crime enforcement. 
C)  education. 
D)  welfare policy. 
E)  health care. 
A)  homeland security. 
B)  crime enforcement. 
C)  education. 
D)  welfare policy. 
E)  health care.

Question 18

The ratio of federal employees to the total United States workforce has gone up in the last half century.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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

Describe some ways in which the federal bureaucracy can be rendered more democratically accountable. What is the problem of bureaucratic accountability? What is oversight? What are some possible ways in which the president can control the bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The federal bureaucracy can be rendered

Which of the following is not a way in which Congress can exercise oversight?

Devolution may lead to disparities in services throughout the different states.

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

Which of the following statements about the merit system is not true?

Independent agencies are important components of Cabinet departments.

Individual members of Congress can discover questions of public responsibility when engaged in

Which of the following statements about administrative rule making is false?

Civil servants were given legal protection against being fired without a show of cause in order to

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

The Freedom of Information Act is designed to

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

Which statement about regulatory agencies is correct?

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

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

The attempt of bureaucracies to translate laws into specific rules and actions is called

Which of the following was a way in which President Obama attempted to uphold his campaign promise to reduce government secrecy?

The most significant example of devolution in recent decades has been in the area of

The ratio of federal employees to the total United States workforce has gone up in the last half century.

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

Describe some ways in which the federal bureaucracy can be rendered more democratically accountable. What is the problem of bureaucratic accountability? What is oversight? What are some possible ways in which the president can control the bureaucracy?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Courts

Filters

Exam 14: Bureaucracy in a Democracy

Which of the following is not a way in which Congress can exercise oversight?

Devolution may lead to disparities in services throughout the different states.

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

Which of the following statements about the merit system is not true?

Independent agencies are important components of Cabinet departments.

Individual members of Congress can discover questions of public responsibility when engaged in

Which of the following statements about administrative rule making is false?

Civil servants were given legal protection against being fired without a show of cause in order to

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

The Freedom of Information Act is designed to

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

Which statement about regulatory agencies is correct?

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

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

The attempt of bureaucracies to translate laws into specific rules and actions is called

Which of the following was a way in which President Obama attempted to uphold his campaign promise to reduce government secrecy?

The most significant example of devolution in recent decades has been in the area of

The ratio of federal employees to the total United States workforce has gone up in the last half century.

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

Describe some ways in which the federal bureaucracy can be rendered more democratically accountable. What is the problem of bureaucratic accountability? What is oversight? What are some possible ways in which the president can control the bureaucracy?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Courts

Filters