Question 1

Soft money is:

Accepted Answer

Soft money refers to funds donated to political parties and used for general purposes such as voter mobilization and issue advocacy. Unlike "hard money" which is subject to federal contribution limits and must be documented and reported, soft money is not restricted or documented.

Question 2

Which of the following activities would not constitute payroll fraud?

Accepted Answer

Hiring Hillary Clinton to advise a congressional committee is not related to the payroll of congressional staff and therefore cannot constitute payroll fraud. The other options involve misusing or manipulating the payroll of congressional staff for personal gain, which are examples of payroll fraud.

Question 3

Prosecutions of corrupt federal legislators have been divided into three categories. They include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The three categories of prosecutions of corrupt federal legislators typically include violations of election laws, payroll fraud, and bribery. Theft is not typically listed as a category of prosecution for corrupt federal legislators.

Question 4

The ABSCAM operation was criticized because:

Accepted Answer

ABSCAM was criticized because it involved setting up sting operations to catch officials accepting bribes, rather than targeting pre-existing criminal activity. This approach led to debates over entrapment and the ethics of such operations.

Question 5

Which of the following would be representative of "little corruption"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would be representative...

Question 6

The eight-year, four-month sentence given to arch-conservative Duke Cunningham was ironic because:

Accepted Answer

Duke Cunningham's sentence was ironic because he had been a proponent of tougher sentences for crimes, yet he found himself receiving a significant prison sentence.

Question 7

A gift becomes a bribe when:

Accepted Answer

A gift becomes a bribe when there is a quid pro quo, meaning the gift is given with the expectation of receiving something in return. This can be anything from favorable treatment to a specific decision. Simply requesting a gift does not necessarily make it a bribe, and the amount of the gift is not as relevant as the intention behind it. If the gift is freely given without any expectation of receiving something in return, it is not considered a bribe.

Question 8

PAC stands for:

Accepted Answer

PAC stands for Political Action Committee, which is a type of organization that raises and spends money to support or oppose political candidates, parties, or issues.

Question 9

After numerous tries, the government finally convicted Governor Edwin Edwards of Louisiana based on testimony from:

Accepted Answer

The answer of After numerous tries, the government finally convicted...

Question 10

In Washington, D.C., what now rivals or exceeds power as the preeminent goal?

Accepted Answer

While political aspirations, fame, and political connections are all important in Washington, D.C., money has become increasingly important and influential in recent years. The high cost of running for office and the influence of big money donors and lobbyists have made wealth a key factor in politics and policymaking.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of public corruption?

Accepted Answer

Hiring an unskilled relative as a policy analyst is an example of nepotism, which falls under the category of public corruption. It involves misuse of public office for personal gain or advantage.

Question 12

Paisley and others committed all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The statement "arguing for more lenient treatment of government contractors who tried to cheat the government" indicates that Paisley and others were advocating for punishment of those who attempted to cheat the government, rather than being complicit in the cheating themselves. A, B, and D all describe actions that involve benefiting or showing favoritism to certain vendors or subcontractors.

Question 13

Representative Daniel Flood of Pennsylvania flooded his home district with federal funds and numerous public institutions carried his name. He took money from businessmen to do all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Representative Daniel Flood did not take money from businessmen to contribute campaign funds to a personal charity. The other options involve actions that align with using influence for financial or political gain.

Question 14

Melvyn Paisley was an Assistant Secretary of the Navy for six years and was in charge of:

Accepted Answer

Melvyn Paisley was in charge of procurement during his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Question 15

Giving money to an elected official is bribery when:

Accepted Answer

Giving money in exchange for a vote on legislation is a clear example of bribery, as it involves offering a monetary incentive to a public official in exchange for their support on a specific issue. This would be considered a form of corruption and is illegal under anti-bribery laws. The other options may not necessarily be considered bribery, depending on the context and the specific actions or exchanges involved.

Question 16

Governor Fife Symington, before he was indicted for defrauding creditors in connection with a savings and loan, was the chief executive for what state?

Accepted Answer

Governor Fife Symington was the chief executive for the state of Arizona.

Question 17

Inspectors in the Department of Agriculture have done all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B because it is incomplete and does not provide a full statement or action taken by the inspectors. All other options describe specific actions or failures by the inspectors.

Question 18

An unnamed congressman, after receiving a $10,000 check from an organization, did what?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the congressman received a $10,000 check from an organization suggests that there may have been some sort of influence or lobbying involved. The fact that the congressman then voted against a regulation requiring disclosure of defects in automobiles could be seen as a decision made in favor of the organization that gave the check.

Question 19

"Little corruption" in the highest level of federal executive office has been:

Accepted Answer

Corruption at the highest level of federal executive office is generally rare, as there are significant checks and balances and scrutiny in place to prevent it.

Question 20

Federal District Judge Alcee Hastings was impeached and removed from office after:

Accepted Answer

CAlcee Hastings was impeached and removed from office after he was acquitted of conspiracy to commit bribery, but the impeachment was based on allegations related to the same case. The impeachment process can proceed independently of criminal proceedings, and in Hastings' case, it led to his removal despite the acquittal.

Quiz 10: Corruption of Public Officials