Question 1

Behind the myths of incompetence and unresponsiveness is the reality that the national bureaucracy's problems stem from:

Accepted Answer

The national bureaucracy's problems often arise from contradictory expectations of the public, which can lead to challenges in effectively meeting diverse and sometimes opposing demands.

Question 2

Federal bureaucratic agencies set up to run like private businesses and to generate their own financial support are:

Accepted Answer

Government corporations are federal bureaucratic agencies set up to run like private businesses and to generate their own financial support.

Question 3

Congress can control or limit bureaucratic power:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Congress can control or limit bureaucratic power:
...

Question 4

An iron triangle is a(n):

Accepted Answer

An iron triangle is a stable, mutually beneficial political relationship among a government agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group, often working together to advance their common interests.

Question 5

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emerged as a "model agency" when ____ took control of it under Clinton.

Accepted Answer

James Lee Witt was appointed as the director of FEMA by President Clinton in 1993. Under Witt's leadership, FEMA became a "model agency" for its effective response to natural disasters.

Question 6

FEMA was created to be an independent agency that answered to:

Accepted Answer

FEMA was created in 1979 by an executive order from President Jimmy Carter to be an independent agency that reported directly to the President.

Question 7

Favoritism and bureaucratic "capture" are concerns related to the bureaucratic pathology known as:

Accepted Answer

Clientelism refers to a situation where bureaucrats favor certain groups or individuals, leading to favoritism and capture by those they serve.

Question 8

Government contracts, grant programs, loan guarantees, and special sponsored enterprises are means for the federal bureaucracy to carry out:

Accepted Answer

Proxy administration refers to the federal bureaucracy using third parties, such as private companies or state and local governments, to implement federal programs and policies through contracts, grants, and other means.

Question 9

If Congress passes a law requiring new safety standards for airlines but then leaves the details and enforcement of those standards up to the National Transportation Safety Board, that would be an example of bureaucratic power due to:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of bureaucratic discretion, where Congress sets broad policy goals and delegates the authority to a bureaucratic agency to fill in the details and enforce the standards.

Question 10

If bureaucrats in the Department of Labor showed favoritism toward the interests of a particular labor union, that would be an example of:

Accepted Answer

Clientelism refers to the practice where officials favor specific groups or individuals, often in exchange for support or benefits, which aligns with showing favoritism toward a particular labor union.

Question 11

If you wanted a federal job today, you probably would have to demonstrate your competence by scoring well on a civil service examination. This process is an illustration of a(n):

Accepted Answer

The merit system is a process of hiring and promoting government employees based on their ability to perform a job, demonstrated through competitive examinations, rather than political connections or other non-merit factors.

Question 12

There are currently about ____ million nonelected civilian federal workers.

Accepted Answer

There are approximately 2.7 million nonelected civilian federal workers in the United States.

Question 13

In addition to rewarding those who supported his election, President Andrew Jackson believed patronage was:

Accepted Answer

President Andrew Jackson believed in the "spoils system," which was intended to democratize government by rotating officeholders and giving ordinary Americans the opportunity to serve in government positions.

Question 14

In the early republic, patronage was used to:

Accepted Answer

Patronage in the early republic was used to reward supporters, offset political divisions, and provide access to government positions, making all options correct.

Question 15

In the mid-1970s, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) eliminated barriers to competition among the major airlines, leading Congress to:

Accepted Answer

In the late 1970s, Congress passed the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which removed government control over fares, routes, and market entry of new airlines, effectively deregulating the airline industry.

Question 16

Incrementalism would be evident in bureaucratic behavior if an agency:

Accepted Answer

Incrementalism in bureaucratic behavior refers to making changes in small, gradual steps rather than through large, radical shifts. Resisting change except in very small steps aligns with this concept.

Question 17

John F. Kennedy issued a mandate calling for:

Accepted Answer

John F. Kennedy famously set the goal of landing an American on the moon by the end of the 1960s, which was achieved in 1969 with the Apollo 11 mission.

Question 18

Observers argued that the failure of FEMA to act promptly and efficiently after Hurricane Katrina:

Accepted Answer

The failure of FEMA after Hurricane Katrina was seen as a significant political issue for the Bush administration, marking a turning point in public perception and political challenges.

Question 19

One of the most important Executive Office of the President (EOP) agencies is the:

Accepted Answer

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is one of the most important EOP agencies as it assists the President in overseeing the preparation of the federal budget and supervises its administration in Executive Branch agencies.

Question 20

One result of implementing the spoils system was a federal bureaucracy in which jobs were:

Accepted Answer

The spoils system awarded government jobs to political supporters and friends, often without regard to their qualifications, leading to positions being simplified to accommodate those without expertise.

Quiz 13: Bureaucracy