Question 1

The foundations of the bureaucracy, while not explicitly stated, can be found in _______ of the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A)   Article I
B)   Article II
C)   Article III
D)   Article IV
E)   the supremacy clause B

Question 2

What is the civil service? How does it differ from political appointments?

Accepted Answer

The civil service is a body of government employees who are employed on a professional basis to implement the policies and directives of the government of the day. Civil servants are typically career professionals who work in various capacities within government departments, agencies, and public entities. They are selected through a merit-based system, often involving competitive examinations and evaluations of qualifications and experience. The civil service is designed to be politically neutral and impartial, providing continuity and expertise regardless of which political party is in power.

Civil servants perform a wide range of functions, including policy development, administrative work, service delivery, and regulatory enforcement. They are expected to carry out their duties with a commitment to the public interest and are often bound by codes of conduct that emphasize integrity, honesty, and political neutrality.

In contrast, political appointments are positions filled by individuals chosen by elected officials, typically without the need for a competitive selection process. Political appointees are often selected for their loyalty, political alignment, or support for the current administration's agenda. They usually occupy the top-tier positions within government departments, such as cabinet secretaries, ministers, ambassadors, or other high-level executives. Political appointees serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and typically leave office when the administration changes or when they are replaced by the appointing official.

The key differences between the civil service and political appointments include:

1. Selection Process: Civil servants are hired through a merit-based system, while political appointees are chosen by elected officials, often based on political considerations.

2. Tenure: Civil servants have stable, long-term employment, whereas political appointees serve at the discretion of the appointing authority and their tenure is often tied to the electoral cycle.

3. Political Neutrality: Civil servants are expected to be politically neutral and serve the public interest, while political appointees may be more aligned with the political ideology of the current administration.

4. Role and Function: Civil servants are responsible for the day-to-day operations and implementation of policies, while political appointees often set the strategic direction and make high-level policy decisions.

5. Expertise: Civil servants are often subject matter experts with specialized knowledge and experience in their fields, whereas political appointees may be chosen for their political skills and relationships rather than technical expertise.

In summary, the civil service provides the professional workforce that maintains the continuity and functionality of government operations, while political appointments bring political leadership and direction to the government, with a focus on implementing the elected officials' agenda. Both are essential components of a functioning government, but they serve different roles and are governed by different principles and expectations.

Question 3

In response to the assassination of President Garfield, Congress passed the _________, which established a merit- and performance-based system for federal employment.

Accepted Answer

A)   Merit System Act
B)   Pendleton Act
C)   Bryce Act
D)   Dawes Act
E)   Patriot Act B

Question 4

Discuss the cabinet-level departments and the roles of the cabinet secretaries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the cabinet-level departments and the roles...

Question 5

State the advantages and disadvantages of the hierarchical decision-making process.

Accepted Answer

The answer of State the advantages and disadvantages of the...

Question 6

Federal employees who are hired through a merit-based system to implement federal programs and who are expected to be neutral in their political affiliations are known as

Accepted Answer

A)   AmeriCorps.
B)   political appointees.
C)   career civil servants.
D)   executive workers.
E)   cabinet members.

Question 7

The main job of the bureaucracy is to _________, which is seen as an extension of how the president executes laws.

Accepted Answer

A)   enforce the laws
B)   enforce the rules
C)   enforce Supreme Court decisions
D)   enforce criminal law
E)   enforce political agendas

Question 8

The Office of Personnel Management oversees both ______ and ______ types of federal employees.

Accepted Answer

A)   political; civil
B)   civil; elected
C)   elected; political
D)   political; state
E)   state; civil

Question 9

Define bureaucracy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define bureaucracy....

Question 10

At the level of cabinet appointees, President Obama worked, with limited success, to

Accepted Answer

A)   create a truly bipartisan advisory group.
B)   appoint only underrepresented ethnic minorities.
C)   appoint individuals embraced by the opposing party.
D)   create greater diversity.
E)   appoint only nonpartisan executives.

Question 11

Congressional committees can use their jurisdiction to request testimony from ______ and _______ to explain the way they implement programs.

Accepted Answer

A)   agency; military officials
B)   agency; cabinet officials
C)   cabinet officials; federal judges
D)   governors; agency officials
E)   cabinet officials; governors

Question 12

A president's _________ is a set of key advisers who are responsible for the areas under their jurisdiction.

Accepted Answer

A)   administration
B)   board of directors
C)   cabinet
D)   commission
E)   committee

Question 13

Discuss the challenges involved in implementing environmental regulations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the challenges involved in implementing environmental...

Question 14

The statement, "Every organization has a persistent, patterned way of thinking about the central tasks of human relationships within an organization," describes

Accepted Answer

A)   bureaucratic expertise.
B)   bureaucratic culture.
C)   bureaucratic  policy.
D)   bureaucratic mission.
E)   bureaucratic purpose.

Question 15

Federal agencies serve as gateways for the federal government to respond to citizens' needs in all of the following ways EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)   product labeling.
B)   air travel.
C)   food inspection.
D)   licensure.
E)   the stock market.

Question 16

In setting up his administration, President Andrew Jackson established a __________, in which he only appointed employees who pledged loyalty to him.

Accepted Answer

A)   merit system
B)   victory system
C)   Democratic union
D)   patronage system
E)   monopoly

Question 17

The career nature of the civil service allows for built-in protections against

Accepted Answer

A)   media pressure.
B)   political pressure.
C)   public pressure.
D)   incompetency.
E)   international affairs.

Question 18

Provide a detailed discussion of how the Pendleton Act changed the nature of civil service employees.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide a detailed discussion of how the...

Question 19

Because it oversees Medicare and Medicaid, ________ must implement the new programs associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Accepted Answer

A)   the Secretary of State's Office
B)   Congress
C)   the Department of Health and Human Services
D)   the Department of the Interior
E)   the National Institutes of Health

Question 20

Federal employees appointed by the president with the explicit task of carrying out the president's political and partisan agenda are known as

Accepted Answer

A)   political appointees.
B)   merit system appointees.
C)   Pendleton Act employees.
D)   civil service employees.
E)   career civil servants.

Exam 14: The Bureaucracy