Deck 8: The Federal Bureaucracy

Question 1

What is meant by "administrative law"?

A) Ethical standards for agency employees including all managers and administrators
B) Laws that relate specifically to the authority of an administrative agency, are created by that agency, and carry the enforceability of law
C) Laws in which Congress dictates how an agency head will conduct his or her business
D) Laws created by the president that all federal agencies must follow but state agencies may disregard in certain cases
E) Court opinions that carry the weight of law based on Supreme Court rulings that have stood over time

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Though Congress may delegate power to the bureaucratic agencies, Congress does not normally give open-ended power, and it does not relinquish all power. The process of retaining ultimate authority is called

A) auditing.
B) congressional prerogative.
C) congressional oversight.
D) partial delegation.
E) retention.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Regulations are

A) a set of rules that guide employees of an agency in carrying out a program or service.
B) a widely accessible federal government publication.
C) freedom in deciding how to implement a law.
D) Congress choosing not to deal with politically difficult issues.
E) the process of carrying out a law.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which term refers to the process in which the federal bureaucracy carries out a law passed by Congress?

A) Rules and regulations
B) Execution
C) Policy implementation
D) Bureaucratic oversight
E) Policy development

Question 5

Each bureaucratic unit or agency has a written procedure for carrying out its programs or services. These procedures are referred to as

A) red tape.
B) regulations.
C) statutes.
D) writs.
E) implementation cycles.

Question 6

The federal government's bureaucracy is ultimately the responsibility of

A) the President of the United States.
B) the Congressional Business Office.
C) the Oversight Committee of the Supreme Court.
D) the White House chief of staff.
E) the bureaucracy itself.

Question 7

Modern Americans are NOT most likely to encounter government bureaucracy when

A) registering for unemployment benefits.
B) receiving Social Security benefits.
C) receiving orders to report for a pre-induction physical.
D) receiving a driver's license.
E) checking a product's safety at the Consumer Protection Agency's website.

Question 8

Most organizations have a common set of rules for carrying out functions that characterize the operations. These formal rules are called

A) statutes.
B) recommendations.
C) bureaucratic guidelines.
D) standard operating procedures.
E) standardized commands.

Question 9

Policy implementation is

A) a set of rules that guide employees of an agency in carrying out a program or service.
B) a widely accessible federal government publication.
C) freedom in deciding how to implement a law.
D) Congress choosing not to deal with politically difficult issues.
E) the process of carrying out a law.

Question 10

What provisions or requirements does the U.S. Constitution make concerning the federal bureaucracy?

A) The bureaucracy must be in tune with the needs of the citizenry and must be structured in a way to meet those needs.
B) The bureaucracy must be separate from political parties in order that it not fall prey to political pressures.
C) The Constitution places the president as head of the bureaucracy.
D) The bureaucracy must not be allowed to grow larger than the military.
E) The bureaucracy is an important reality in American federal government, though the Constitution makes no mention of it.

Question 11

The federal bureaucracy that develops workplace safety regulations and enforces them is the

A) Environmental Protection Agency.
B) Department of Commerce.
C) American Federation of Labor.
D) Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
E) Employment Security Commission.

Question 12

Congressional oversight includes

A) placing an artillery round beyond a target for the purpose of adjusting fire.
B) a preliminary scan of proposed regulations to check for logical consistency.
C) a review of the relevant enabling act to assess conformance with the Constitution.
D) regular monitoring of bureaucratic agency performance for the purpose of accountability.
E) asking the Attorney General for an advisory opinion regarding a proposed regulation.

Question 13

When a bureaucratic unit or agency drafts a set of regulations to implement a program, those regulations must be officially published and made accessible to the public. These regulations are published in the

A) Federal Register.
B) United States Code.
C) Federal Statutes.
D) Supreme Court Reporter.
E) Washington Post.

Question 14

What is meant by "delegated congressional power"?

A) Congress delegates limited powers of lawmaking to the president.
B) Congress chooses how it wishes to enforce particular laws and states decide whether to support these decisions.
C) Congress surrenders its lawmaking powers to the state legislatures.
D) Though Congress has the constitutional power to make laws, it gives an agency the effective power to make laws related to the agency's particular sphere of influence.
E) The Supreme Court takes the authority to make laws from Congress and delegates it instead to the agencies.

Question 15

The federal bureaucracy that is charged with regulating air and water quality standards is the

A) National Park Service.
B) Department of the Interior.
C) Environmental Protection Agency.
D) Sierra Club.
E) Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

Question 16

What is meant by "administrative discretion"?

A) The federal courts have considerable oversight ability and latitude to steer an agency.
B) An agency is not bound by its written regulations and may adapt its procedures to meet the particular circumstance.
C) Having enacted the legislation, Congress has reserved the right to create administrative guidelines for an agency.
D) When laws are vague, a federal agency usually has considerable freedom in deciding how to implement them.
E) In regard to a federal agency, the president has considerable freedom to dictate to the agency how a law will be implemented.

Question 17

Which term often carries negative connotations of overgrown government, excessive rules and paperwork, and a burdensome process?

A) Civil service
B) Populism
C) Communism
D) Bureaucracy
E) Washington

Question 18

A step included in authoring regulations is

A) asking the Attorney General for an advisory opinion regarding a proposed regulation.
B) asking the courts for a preliminary ruling regarding a proposed regulation.
C) having an open period where the agency accepts comments on a proposed regulation.
D) Options A, B, and C are true.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 19

One of the reasons for Congress passing vague laws, thus calling for administrative discretion, is

A) a set of rules that guide employees of an agency in carrying out a program or service.
B) a widely accessible federal government publication.
C) freedom in deciding how to implement a law.
D) Congress choosing not to deal with politically difficult issues.
E) the process of carrying out a law.

Question 20

Sociologist Max Weber, an early student of bureaucratic organizations, identified several common characteristics of effective bureaucracies. Which of the following would NOT be on Weber's list?

A) Hierarchical arrangement with a clear chain of command from top to bottom
B) A focus on the professionalism of all employees
C) Hiring and promotional decisions that are normally influenced by local politicians
D) Organization based on a division of labor, expertise, and specialization
E) A common set of rules and regulations for carrying out organizational functions

Question 21

President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs were created to counter the negative effects of the Great Depression. Which of the following was NOT one of the federal agencies that Roosevelt was instrumental in creating during his 13-year tenure?

A) Social Security Administration
B) Securities and Exchange Commission
C) Department of the Treasury
D) Civilian Conservation Corp
E) Brownlow Committee

Question 22

Though it is federal agency and not a court, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may take what action against a company that violates an employee's rights?

A) The EEOC has authority to adjudicate a case against a company and impose a punishment and fine.
B) The EEOC has full judicial powers to imprison offenders.
C) The EEOC and other federal agencies have no powers to enforce administrative rules and must rely solely on the federal courts.
D) State courts have authority over federal agencies that operate within their jurisdictions.
E) The EEOC has does not have original jurisdiction in a case but serves as an appellate level review for lower federal courts.

Question 23

President Johnson's Great Society programs in the 1960s built upon President Roosevelt's New Deal programs of the 1930s as they responded to the growing prosperity in the American economy. Which of the following was NOT a goal of Johnson's policies?

A) To promote social justice
B) To create a safety net for the poor
C) To guarantee health care for the elderly
D) To greatly expand educational opportunities for all Americans
E) To force the state governments to assume the responsibility for social assistance

Question 24

By the 1930s the federal bureaucracy had grown significantly. In response, President Roosevelt in 1936 created the Brownlow Commission. What was the purpose of this commission?

A) To identify funding sources in order to expand the federal government's reach
B) To investigate ways in which the president could circumvent the powers of Congress
C) To reduce the number of federal agencies
D) To investigate how to make the growing bureaucracy more efficient and more responsive to the president
E) To expand U.S. military powers throughout Europe and Asia

Question 25

Some federal agencies are given bureaucratic powers to adjudicate cases on behalf of the United States government. Which of the following is NOT a federal agency with adjudication powers?

A) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
B) National Labor Relations Board
C) Federal Communication Commission
D) Environmental Protection Agency
E) National Park Service

Question 26

An ongoing debate in American government is the question of which level of government should have the authority to provide programs and services to citizens. Beginning in the 1980s many of the services provided by the federal government were relinquished to the state governments. This process is known as

A) deregulation.
B) devolution.
C) privatization.
D) reinvention.
E) revolution.

Question 27

Beginning in the 1980s, the federal government has used a variety of methods to reduce the size and tax burden of the federal bureaucracy. One such method is privatization. Which of the following does NOT describe an intended purpose of privatization?

A) To increase the number of employees supported by the federal government
B) To replace government-provided services with services provided by the private sector
C) To keep costs for services lower than those provided by government agencies
D) To allow for less government red tape and fewer civil service restrictions
E) To allow private companies to have more flexibility to compete and adapt to changing circumstances

Question 28

The Bureau of Labor was created

A) to help regulate interstate and foreign trade arising from large-scale industrialization and economic development.
B) as a response to workers' concerns that arose with the growth of the industrial economy.
C) to respond to severe economic crises.
D) to provide jobs for large numbers of the unemployed.
E) to deal with the nation's fiscal woes.

Question 29

As a bureaucratic agency under direction of Congress, what is the purpose of the General Accounting Office (GAO)?

A) It manages the U.S. Treasury.
B) It is an auditing agency that investigates the actions or inactions of other agencies.
C) It is an enforcement arm of Congress that prosecutes criminal activity among agency employees.
D) It acts as a liaison between the president and Congress concerning the federal budget.
E) It is an agency that lobbies Congress for favorable funding or legislation for the executive branch.

Question 30

While expanded federal programs are often popular for Americans, this much larger bureaucracy suffers during a downturn in economic growth, such as was experienced in the 1970s. Why does an economic downturn create such challenges?

A) There are fewer citizens for the bureaucracy to serve.
B) Economic downturns often create federal budget deficits that make it very difficult to continue supporting a large bureaucracy.
C) State governments begin to take away the federal government's role in providing social benefits.
D) Downturns in the economy always create international tensions that require a stronger military presence, which in turn drains off available resources.
E) As the U.S. Constitution requires a balanced budget, the federal government must eliminate agencies when income decreases.

Question 31

Eliminating government oversight and laws concerning certain activities, resulting in less government intervention, is referred to as

A) bureaucracy.
B) downsizing.
C) outsourcing.
D) deregulation.
E) privatization.

Question 32

As an agency under direction of the Congress, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) makes budget recommendations to Congress. What is the other primary purpose of the CBO?

A) It recommends salaries for legislators.
B) It presents a completed budget to the president each year for his/her approval.
C) It conducts research, such as program effectiveness studies, at the direction of Congress.
D) It serves as the treasury for the Congress.
E) It functions as a bank within the capitol building.

Question 33

The federal bureaucracy is made up of a variety of agencies. The 15 major administrative organizations within the bureaucracy that report directly to the president are called

A) mini-bureaucracies.
B) state governments.
C) judicial branches.
D) cabinet departments.
E) administrative units.

Question 34

Only Congress has the power to create a federal cabinet-level department. The most recent federal cabinet to be created was the

A) State Department.
B) Department of Education.
C) Department of Homeland Security.
D) Department of Justice.
E) Attorney General's Office.

Question 35

The Department of Justice was established

A) to increase services and agencies in support of military operations.
B) to centralize the national economic and monetary system.
C) to aid in westward expansion of the nation.
D) to prosecute violators of federal Reconstruction statutes.
E) to manage federally owned lands.

Question 36

A common and effective method for Congress to enforce its oversight of a federal agency with which it is dissatisfied is to

A) abolish the agency.
B) transfer the agency to the executive branch.
C) hold extensive Congressional hearings.
D) reduce or eliminate the agency's budget.
E) prosecute the agency's officials.

Question 37

The Commerce Agency was created

A) to help regulate interstate and foreign trade arising from large-scale industrialization and economic development.
B) as a response to workers' concerns that arose with the growth of the industrial economy.
C) to respond to severe economic crises.
D) to provide jobs for large numbers of the unemployed.
E) to deal with the nation's fiscal woes.

Question 38

The federal bureaucracy currently employs thousands of people. Comparatively, during the administration of President George Washington the total number of agencies was __________ and the total number of federal employees was ___________.

A) two; ten
B) three; about fifty
C) four; about one hundred and eighty
D) six; more than one thousand
E) twelve; more than fifteen thousand

Question 39

Bureaucratic adjudication

A) includes determining the rights and duties of particular parties within the scope of agency rules or regulations.
B) takes place in the court system.
C) is a process whereby an agency expands its power into subject matter areas adjacent to its primary area of concern.
D) Options A, B, and C are true.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 40

What is meant by the term "administrative judge"?

A) It is a judge that does not preside in a courtroom but handles court-related paperwork.
B) It is a judge who serves as a magistrate.
C) It is a judge who works within a federal agency to hold hearings and make judgments on cases related to that agency.
D) It is a lower court judge who determines guilt but not punishments.
E) It is another name for an appellate court judge, such as those on the Court of Appeals.

Question 41

Federal agencies that are responsible for implementing rules and regulations with respect to individual or corporate conduct related to some aspect of the economy are called

A) independent agencies.
B) congressional agencies.
C) executive branch sub-divisions.
D) regulatory agencies.
E) interstate agencies.

Question 42

The sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Labor that sets policies for conduct of negotiations between employers and employees is the

A) Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS).
B) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
C) AFL-CIO.
D) Magistrate's Court.
E) State Department.

Question 43

The Hatch Act

A) prohibits the dismissal of an employee for political purposes.
B) was a response to the Spoils System.
C) administers the system of federal hiring.
D) was modified by the Shakman decision.
E) established a system for hiring some federal workers based on job qualifications.

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a cabinet department of the executive branch?

A) Department of Defense
B) Department of Education
C) Department of Justice
D) State Department
E) Judicial Branch

Question 45

The federal Cabinet-level agency that has the primary charge of protecting the nation from terrorism and responding to emergency situations is the

A) State Department.
B) Central Intelligence Agency.
C) Department of Homeland Security.
D) Department of Justice.
E) Department of Defense.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a primary unit of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security?

A) Emergency Preparedness and Response
B) Science and Technology
C) The Secret Service
D) The United States Military
E) Border and Transportation Security

Question 47

The Department of Justice

A) protects the federal judiciary, apprehends fugitives, and detains people in federal custody.
B) represents the United States abroad, conveying U. S. foreign policy to foreign governments and international organizations.
C) is responsible for paying all the bills of the federal government.
D) handles federal relations with Native American tribes.
E) manages patent and trademark protection programs.

Question 48

The Treasury Department

A) protects the federal judiciary, apprehends fugitives, and detains people in federal custody.
B) represents the United States abroad, conveying U. S. foreign policy to foreign governments and international organizations.
C) is responsible for paying all the bills of the federal government.
D) handles federal relations with Native American tribes.
E) manages patent and trademark protection programs.

Question 49

The Executive Office of the President is an agency of the federal bureaucracy that is managed by the White House Chief of Staff. Which of the following positions or units is NOT included in this agency?

A) White House Press Secretary
B) Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
C) National Security Council (NSC)
D) U.S. Secretary of State
E) White House Counsel

Question 50

The State Department

A) protects the federal judiciary, apprehends fugitives, and detains people in federal custody.
B) represents the United States abroad, conveying U. S. foreign policy to foreign governments and international organizations.
C) is responsible for paying all the bills of the federal government.
D) handles federal relations with Native American tribes.
E) manages patent and trademark protection programs.

Question 51

Which federal regulatory agency was created in 1914 with the authority to implement rules and regulations that encourage competition in industry?

A) Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
B) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
C) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
D) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
E) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Question 52

A government corporation

A) is based on the idea that a market exists of customers willing to pay for services provided.
B) relies on revenue primarily derived from payment for services provided.
C) often is kept in business by government intervention.
D) Options A, B, and C are true.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 53

Some federal agencies do not have high cabinet-level status but they do report directly to the president. Such agencies, which include NASA and the Small Business Administration, are referred to as

A) cabinet departments.
B) independent agencies.
C) administrative units.
D) congressional subdivisions.
E) inner circle agencies.

Question 54

At the head of each cabinet department is a secretary. How does a secretary obtain his/her position?

A) Nominated by and answers directly to the Senate
B) Nominated by and is subordinate to the judicial branch
C) Nominated by Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the state governments
D) Appointed by the president but must be confirmed by the Senate
E) Appointed by the president at his/her discretion without oversight

Question 55

The Civil Service Reform Act

A) prohibits the dismissal of an employee for political purposes.
B) was a response to the Spoils System.
C) administers the system of federal hiring.
D) was modified by the Shakman decision.
E) established a system for hiring some federal workers based on job qualifications.

Question 56

A government corporation

A) must register and file regular reports with the SEC.
B) is regulated by the Treasury Department.
C) forecasts weather and environmental conditions.
D) Options A, B, and C are true.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 57

The Department of Commerce

A) protects the federal judiciary, apprehends fugitives, and detains people in federal custody.
B) represents the United States abroad, conveying U. S. foreign policy to foreign governments and international organizations.
C) is responsible for paying all the bills of the federal government.
D) handles federal relations with Native American tribes.
E) manages patent and trademark protection programs.

Question 58

The sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Labor that develops standards to promote safe workplace environments and implements regulations to enforce these standards with employers is the

A) Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS).
B) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
C) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
D) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
E) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Question 59

The Department of Interior

A) protects the federal judiciary, apprehends fugitives, and detains people in federal custody.
B) represents the United States abroad, conveying U. S. foreign policy to foreign governments and international organizations.
C) is responsible for paying all the bills of the federal government.
D) handles federal relations with Native American tribes.
E) manages patent and trademark protection programs.

Question 60

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a primary unit of which agency?

A) Department of Homeland Security
B) Department of Defense
C) Department of Commerce
D) Congressional Budget Office
E) Federal Bureau of Investigation

Question 61

What is the purpose of a federal regulatory agency? Give three examples of regulatory agencies and briefly describe the primary role of each agency.

Question 62

What impact did President Roosevelt's New Deal policies have on the federal bureaucracy during the Great Depression and into the 1940s? How did the policies of the Roosevelt administration compare to those of the Reagan administration in the 1980s and the emergence of devolution?

Question 63

How does a merit system differ from a system of patronage in the selection of government employees for the civil service?

Question 64

Compare and contrast the activities of political appointees, career professionals, and civil service employees. Explain how each group is hired and how each function.

Question 65

Discuss how the following events have affected the nature of the American bureaucracy: the Civil War, Civil Service reform, the New Deal, World War II, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Give specific examples.

Question 66

Fully explain the processes for developing regulations and bureaucratic adjudication.

Question 67

What is the role of the cabinet-level departments and why are they important to the president? How are the heads of these Cabinet-level departments chosen?

Question 68

The term "bureaucracy" normally creates negative images of bloated and ineffective government. However, the bureaucracy is a necessary part of government and has sometimes been referred to as the fourth branch of government. Describe some of the ways that the bureaucracy serves a useful and important role.

Question 69

Compare and contrast the following methods of getting control of the federal bureaucracy: privatization, deregulation, and devolution. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each method.

Question 70

How do Congress, the president, and the judicial branch make bureaucracies accountable?