Question 1

Public administration is a study of a branch of government which:

Accepted Answer

Public administration is the study of a branch of government that manages public affairs on a day-to-day basis, executes public policy, and is characterized by bureaucratic organization, standardized procedures, and specialization. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 2

What is "Public Administration" the study of?

Accepted Answer

Public Administration is the study of the public agencies, organizations, and bureaucracies involved in implementing government policies and programs. It involves understanding the functions, structures, and processes of these entities, as well as their relationships with other government agencies and the public. It encompasses principles of management, governance, leadership, and policy-making in the context of the public sector. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Question 3

The skills emphasized in the study of Public Administration include:

Accepted Answer

The study of Public Administration emphasizes all of the skills listed, including public organization and management, public personnel administration, and public budgeting & finance. These skills are all essential to effectively manage and oversee public organizations and ensure that they are functioning efficiently and effectively.

Question 4

Bureaupathologies, or the destructive behavior patterns of large-scale organizations, may include:

Accepted Answer

All three choices (A, B, and C) are correct examples of bureaupathologies that can occur within large-scale organizations. Goal displacement occurs when the organization's original goals become secondary to self-serving goals, the iron law of oligarchy suggests that those in control may become an oligarchy, and the Peter Principle states that individuals may be promoted beyond their level of competence.

Question 5

While the concept of ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos, meaning thought about right and wrong, the concept of morality is:

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are correct. The concept of morality is indeed derived from the Latin word "moralis" or "mores," which means character or customs (A). It is generally concerned with a more particular aspect of general ethical systems, focusing on specific practices or behaviors (B). Additionally, the terms morality and ethics are often used interchangeably in many contexts, despite their nuanced differences (C).

Question 6

As a theory of the public interests, the commons is associated with:

Accepted Answer

The commons is based on utilitarian ethics, which assesses the benefits and costs of actions for the participants involved. The goal is to maximize the benefits for all participants in the common resource.

Question 7

The concept of duties or principles of public interests, as used in the text, is associated with:

Accepted Answer

The concept of duties or principles of public interests suggests adherence to deontological ethics, which focuses on universal principles of right and wrong that should guide ethical decision-making in public service, rather than utilitarian ethics, virtue ethics or ethical egoism.

Question 8

The specific approach to the public interests in which public servants take into account all affected persons in their decisions - not just select groups or self-interests - is known as the:

Accepted Answer

The specific approach where public servants take into account all affected persons in their decisions, known as the universalizability principle or "Golden Rule," ensures that public interests are prioritized over select groups or self-interests. It requires decision-makers to consider the consequences of their actions from the perspective of all stakeholders and to choose a course of action that is fair and just for all.

Question 9

According to the ethics case study in the text (the FCC and the public interests), the Fairness Doctrine has ended in-practice in the USA and is no more. This statement is:

Accepted Answer

The Fairness Doctrine was a policy introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States in 1949. It required that broadcasters present controversial issues of public importance in a manner that was honest, equitable, and balanced. However, the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, concluding that it was no longer in the public interest and that it may have been violating the First Amendment rights of broadcasters.
Since its abolition, the Fairness Doctrine has not been in practice in the USA. Broadcasters are no longer required under FCC regulations to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues. Therefore, the statement that the Fairness Doctrine has ended in-practice in the USA and is no more is correct.

Quiz 1: Public Interests