Question 1

The civil service system was created to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The civil service system was created to remove politics and favoritism in awarding government jobs. It established a merit-based system where job applicants are hired based on their qualifications and abilities rather than political affiliations or personal connections.

Question 2

What legislation created the civil service system and placed limits on the spoils system?

Accepted Answer

The Pendleton Act of 1883 created the civil service system and placed limits on the spoils system, requiring that government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit rather than political connections or favors.

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Pendleton Act of 1883?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the Pendleton Act of 1883 was to reduce patronage (also known as the spoils system) in government positions by creating a civil service system based on merit and qualifications rather than political connections.

Question 4

A federal employee who engages in which of the following activities would be in violation of the Hatch Act of 1939?

Accepted Answer

Participating in the political management of campaigns is a violation of the Hatch Act of 1939 for federal employees, as it restricts them from engaging in some forms of political activity to maintain the integrity of the public service.

Question 5

When a president is elected who has a different party affiliation than the current president, the new president staffs the federal government with political supporters and friends. Which of the following does this describe?

Accepted Answer

The description provided is that of the spoils system, which is a practice where the winning party or candidate rewards campaign supporters and friends with government jobs and contracts. This practice was commonly used in the 19th century but has since been replaced by the merit system, which is based on qualifications and performance rather than political affiliation.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the civil service is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and retaining civil service employees. The other options are inaccurate: A) The Pendleton Act established the merit system, it did not limit it; C) The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 expanded protections for civil servants, but it was not the first reform effort; D) There is no federal law that prohibits civil service employees from participating in voter registration drives; E) While the Hatch Act limits political activity for certain federal employees, civil service employees may make donations to political campaigns as long as they do not engage in partisan political activity while on duty.

Question 7

The Social Security Administration, Small Business Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution are examples of what type of organization within the executive branch?

Accepted Answer

The Social Security Administration, Small Business Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution are examples of independent executive agencies, which are organizations within the executive branch that perform a specialized function, but are not part of a cabinet department. They are created by Congress and have their own budget and leadership appointed by the president.

Question 8

Which of the following is accurate regarding the organization of the executive branch?

Accepted Answer

An independent executive agency is not part of a cabinet department but still reports directly to the president, while an independent regulatory agency exists outside the major departments and is tasked with making and implementing rules within a specific area. This accurately describes the organization of the executive branch. Option A is incorrect because cabinet departments are not located outside major departments. Option B is incorrect because a government corporation is not an independent executive agency. Option D is incorrect because a government corporation is not an independent executive agency. Option E is incorrect because an independent regulatory agency is not a government corporation.

Question 9

The Civil Service is designed to protect employees from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service system is designed to protect employees from partisanship, ensuring that government jobs are awarded based on merit rather than political affiliation, thereby promoting a neutral and efficient public service.

Question 10

Which of the following organizations was created by the Pendleton Act to administer entrance exams for the federal civil service and set standards for promotion based on merit?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service Commission was created by the Pendleton Act in 1883 to administer entrance exams for federal civil service jobs and set standards for promotion based on merit. The other options listed were created at later dates and for different purposes.

Question 11

In what system of employment are employees chosen and promoted based on qualifications and performance?

Accepted Answer

The merit system is based on selecting and promoting employees based on their qualifications and job performance rather than political connections or other factors. This ensures that the most qualified and competent individuals are chosen for the position, creating a more efficient and effective workforce.

Question 12

What did the Pendleton Act do?

Accepted Answer

The Pendleton Act established the principle of employment on the basis of open competitive examinations, which replaced the spoils system where government employees were appointed based on political connections rather than qualifications. This act was passed in 1883 with the intention of reforming the civil service system and ensuring that government employees were hired and promoted based on merit rather than political affiliation.

Question 13

Why was the Hatch Act adopted by Congress in 1939?

Accepted Answer

The Hatch Act was adopted by Congress in 1939 to prohibit federal employees from active involvement in political campaigns in order to prevent any potential conflicts of interest and ensure that government operations were carried out impartially.

Question 14

You are trying to classify the various organizations that operate within the executive branch. How can you identify an independent regulatory agency?

Accepted Answer

An independent regulatory agency is separate from major cabinet departments and has a specific policy area in which it creates rules and regulations. Thus, only option C fits this description.

Question 15

What is the basis for hiring decisions made under the civil service system?

Accepted Answer

The civil service system is based on merit, meaning that hiring decisions are made based on an individual's qualifications, skills, and abilities rather than political beliefs or personal connections. This system is designed to promote fairness, equality, and efficiency in government hiring practices.

Question 16

Your friend works in the federal bureaucracy but is not a political appointee. You can therefore assume this individual is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A career civil servant is an individual who works in the federal bureaucracy but is not a political appointee. They are hired based on their qualifications and expertise in their field and generally continue to serve in their position even when there is a change in political administration. Legislative liaisons are political appointees who work to communicate and coordinate between an agency and Congress. Cabinet members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve as advisors and leaders within their respective agencies. Foreign ambassadors are also political appointees who represent the United States in foreign countries. Elected representatives serve in Congress or other elected positions and are not part of the federal bureaucracy.

Question 17

In response to the assassination of President Garfield, Congress passed which of the following acts that established a merit- and performance-based system for federal employment?

Accepted Answer

The Pendleton Act, also known as the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, established a merit-based system for federal employment and was passed in response to the assassination of President Garfield by a disgruntled job seeker. The act created the civil service system and mandated that government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit rather than political affiliation or patronage.

Question 18

What legislation, enacted in 1978, encouraged cooperation between political appointees and civil servants, making sure that each was held accountable for decision making, and created the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to oversee both categories of federal employees?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service Reform Act, enacted in 1978, encouraged cooperation between political appointees and civil servants, making sure that each was held accountable for decision making, and created the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to oversee both categories of federal employees. The other options listed do not pertain to this particular topic.

Question 19

While it exists within the executive branch, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), to some extent, combines the powers and functions of all three branches of government, in that it makes, enforces, and resolves disputes over the rules. The ICC is an example of what type of organization?

Accepted Answer

The ICC is an independent regulatory agency because it has the power to make and enforce rules, as well as resolve disputes, which are functions typically associated with the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Question 20

Following a lawsuit, a large corporation recently agreed to implement the merit system. What did it agree to do?

Accepted Answer

The merit system refers to a system of selecting, retaining, and promoting employees based on their performance or scores on examinations. Therefore, the corporation agreed to implement this system following the lawsuit.

Quiz 13: The Executive Branch