Question 1

Which of the following factors contributed to the increased use of the merit system in government hiring?

Accepted Answer

C

Question 2

The text identifies five stages of the budget cycle. What are those five stages?

Accepted Answer

The text clearly states that the five stages of the budget cycle are preparation, formulation, adoption, execution, and audit.

Question 3

The special funding procedure for one-time, nonrecurring expenditures, such as purchasing university buildings, rapid transit systems, and bridges, is called

Accepted Answer

A capital budget is used to fund one-time, nonrecurring expenditures such as purchasing university buildings, rapid transit systems, and bridges. The capital budget is distinct from operating budgets, which cover ongoing expenses such as salaries and supplies. Incremental budgeting involves adjusting the budget based on changes from the prior year, while line-item budgeting involves allocating funds to specific line items. Performance budgeting links budgeting to outcomes and results.

Question 4

If a state employee performs his or her work in a way that is motivated primarily by political considerations, is unqualified for the position, and thus tends to perform poorly in that position, this employee is not adhering to the concept of

Accepted Answer

Neutral competence is the principle that public officials should be hired and evaluated based on their qualifications and ability to perform their job duties, rather than their political affiliations or opinions. If a state employee is motivated primarily by political considerations and is unqualified for their position, this goes against the principle of neutral competence and can lead to poor performance in their job duties. Patronage refers to the practice of hiring individuals based on political loyalty rather than their qualifications, so it is not the correct choice. Performance evaluation and representative bureaucracy are important concepts in public administration, but they are not specifically related to the situation of a state employee being motivated by political considerations.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT an assumption that underlies the concept of representative bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The assumption that bureaucrats have limited power is not necessarily a part of the concept of representative bureaucracy. While it may be true that bureaucratic power is constrained by hierarchy and structure, this is not directly related to the idea that a representative workforce is more responsive to the needs of the people.

Question 6

Twenty-four states, including Montana, Indiana, and Kentucky, have _______ budget cycles.

Accepted Answer

The question is asking for the states that have a specific budget cycle, so we need to determine which choice corresponds to that cycle. "Biennial" means occurring every two years, which is the correct term for a budget cycle that happens every other year. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Question 7

Formulation, or initial development, of the budget document is the responsibility of the _______ in most states and localities, with a few exceptions.

Accepted Answer

In most states and localities, the chief executive, such as the governor or the mayor, is responsible for the initial development of the budget document. However, there are a few exceptions where the legislature or other state officials may have some responsibility in the budget formulation process.

Question 8

___________, started during Andrew Jackson's presidency, is the practice of hiring government employees that depends on party affiliation and other political alliances rather than on job-related qualifications.

Accepted Answer

Patronage, also known as the spoils system, was first implemented during Andrew Jackson's presidency in which government employees were hired based on their political affiliations rather than their qualifications. This allowed politicians to reward their supporters with government jobs and created a system of corruption and inefficiency. It was eventually replaced by the merit system which emphasizes job-related qualifications.

Question 9

How are capital projects funded?

Accepted Answer

Capital projects are typically funded through the sale of general obligation or revenue bonds. These bonds are purchased by investors, such as mutual funds, insurance companies, and individuals, who receive interest payments and the return of the principal when the bonds mature. The funds raised through the bond sale are then used to finance the capital project. This method allows governments to spread the cost of the project over a longer period of time and avoid the need to raise taxes or cut spending in the near term.

Question 10

What piece of legislation set up an independent, bipartisan civil service commission to make objective, merit-based selections for federal job openings?

Accepted Answer

The Pendleton Act of 1883 set up an independent, bipartisan civil service commission to make objective, merit-based selections for federal job openings. This marked the beginning of civil service reform in the United States and aimed to end the spoils system of political patronage in government employment.

Question 11

State enactment of merit-based civil service systems was motivated by

Accepted Answer

The answer of State enactment of merit-based civil service systems...

Question 12

Budgets are normally based on fiscal years. The most common fiscal year used by state and local governments is

Accepted Answer

July 1 through June 30 is the most common fiscal year used by state and local governments in the United States. This means that the budget cycle runs from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year. This is also known as the fiscal year or fiscal period. Many organizations align their budgets with the government's fiscal year for consistency and to facilitate financial planning and reporting.

Question 13

The constitutions or statutes of _______ states mandate that the state adopt a balanced state budget each fiscal year.

Accepted Answer

Forty-eight states in the United States have some form of requirement in their constitutions or statutes that mandates the adoption of a balanced budget each fiscal year. This requirement ensures that the state does not spend more money than it receives in revenue. Only Vermont and the federal government do not have such a requirement.

Question 14

If a state constructs its budget by making small adjustments to the previous year's expenditures while avoiding a comprehensive review of requested funds, it is engaging in which type of budgeting?

Accepted Answer

Incremental budgeting involves making small adjustments to the previous year's budget without a comprehensive review of requested funds, prioritizing incremental changes over major shifts in funding. This approach is often criticized for perpetuating inefficient spending habits and failing to address changing priorities or new challenges.

Question 15

What role do agency heads play in the normal budget process?

Accepted Answer

Agency heads play a role in defending the base amount received the previous year and seeking funds for new or expanded programs during the normal budget process. They are responsible for presenting their agency's budget request to Congress and making the case for why their programs and initiatives require funding.

Question 16

One popular device for circumventing balanced-budget requirements is the "off-budget," in which

Accepted Answer

An "off-budget" device allows costs and revenues for public enterprises or special projects to be exempt from central review and not included in budget documents and figures. This enables legislators to circumvent balanced-budget requirements by moving expenditures "off-budget" to give the appearance of a balanced budget.

Question 17

If a police department tracks arrests, clearance rates, crime rates, and citizen satisfaction surveys to evaluate how well they meet their objectives and these results are utilized in determining budget priorities, the department is using which type of budgeting?

Accepted Answer

Performance budgeting involves using performance measures to allocate resources and evaluate the effectiveness of programs or activities. The police department's tracking of arrests, clearance rates, crime rates, and citizen satisfaction surveys aligns with the principles of performance budgeting. Line-item budgeting involves categorizing expenditures by line items, incremental budgeting involves making minor changes to the previous year's budget, and capital budgeting involves allocating resources for the purchase or construction of long-term capital assets. None of these approaches directly involve performance measures.

Question 18

Approximately _______ working Americans is employed by government at some level.

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2020, approximately one in every six working Americans were employed by federal, state or local government.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the line-item budget is true?

Accepted Answer

The line-item budget only shows where the money goes, but not how effectively it was spent. It lists expenditures by line-item and does not measure program results or outcomes.

Question 20

The concept of _______, which is related to the concept of affirmative action, suggests that the structure of government employment should reflect major sexual, racial, socioeconomic, religious, geographic, and related components in society.

Accepted Answer

The concept described reflects the idea of representative bureaucracy, which aims to create a government workforce that represents the diversity of the society it serves. Synergy refers to the combined effect of multiple elements working together, patronage refers to the practice of giving jobs to political supporters, and the merit principle suggests that hiring and promotion should be based solely on qualifications and performance. None of these concepts fully capture the idea of reflecting social diversity in government employment.

Quiz 8: Public Administration: Budgeting and Service Delivery