Deck 8: The Federal Bureaucracy

Question 1

What is the process of enforcing and carrying out a law known as?

A) congressional oversight
B) policy implementation
C) delegated authority
D) making legislation

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is the relationship between the federal bureaucracy and policy implementation?

A) As part of the bureaucracy's job to carry out laws, it is must engage in policy implementation.
B) Congress delegates its policy implementation authority to federal bureaucracies.
C) The federal bureaucracy delegates its implementation authority to Congress to pass legislation.
D) Policy implementation is what allows the federal bureaucracy to pass new rules and regulations.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Maria is a nurse who works at a local quick-care clinic. Part of her responsibilities are to receive patient information from the front office, interact with patients by taking vitals, asking questions about the reason for their visit, and to brief the doctor before he or she goes to check the patient. Maria follows a certain set of procedures each day to make sure the patients receive the best care. What is this an example of?

A) gridlock
B) a bureaucracy
C) inefficiency
D) an organization

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Cynthia is a mother who has just read an article about the presence of a certain chemical in the plastic of a toy she has bought for her child to play with. She is concerned about the effects of this plastic on the health and development of her child and wants to see if others have had similar concerns and if there are any other products with this plastic that she needs to be aware of. Which bureaucracy should Cynthia contact to get this information?

A) the Environmental Protection Agency
B) the Consumer Protection Agency
C) the Food and Drug Administration
D) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Question 5

Suppose Congress has just passed a new law regarding the increase in the federal minimum wage to $18 per hour. The law is rather vague, however, and does not specify when the minimum wage is to be implemented by and if it is to be enforced immediately or on a gradual basis. The agency that is tasked with carrying out the increase in the minimum wage will have ______.

A) implementation authority
B) bureaucratic discretion
C) administrative discretion
D) congressional power

Question 6

What can people do to learn more about the regulations in place by various bureaucratic agencies on a variety of policies?

A) read the Federal Register
B) review Article II of the Constitution
C) check their representatives' social media
D) read the policy as it was passed by Congress

Question 7

How does a federal bureaucracy implement policies and legislation?

A) by making a loose interpretation of the policy or law to benefit the most people
B) by following the specific instructions laid out in the policy by Congress
C) by consulting the president to see how he or she would like the law enforced
D) by developing regulations that help guide the agency in enforcing the law

Question 8

What is required for bureaucracies to show that they are operating efficiently and taking appropriate action on policies or other issues?

A) a chain of command
B) good record-keeping
C) standard operating procedures
D) a culture of professionalism

Question 9

Which statement summarizes the role of the federal bureaucracy?

A) The federal bureaucracy is responsible for carrying out many different functions across several agencies.
B) The federal bureaucracy has the authority to conduct oversight into the actions of Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court.
C) The federal bureaucracy is expected to interact with citizens on a daily basis to solve problems and address issues.
D) The federal bureaucracy is responsible for tracking complaints and developing policies to address those complaints.

Question 10

Why has the federal bureaucracy become one of the most important features of the American government?

A) Bureaucracies have expanded the scope of the government too much to be unimportant.
B) Americans have grown to depend on the services and functions of the bureaucracies.
C) The federal bureaucracy impacts everyone's life, regardless of if they know it or not.
D) Bureaucratic agencies have always played a significant role in American government.

Question 11

How does the Constitution address the establishment of federal bureaucracies?

A) The Constitution allows the president to establish bureaucracies in Article II.
B) Congress is granted the power to set up bureaucracies in Article I.
C) Federal bureaucracies are established by the Tenth Amendment.
D) The Constitution does not reference the establishment of bureaucracies.

Question 12

Danica is a senior citizen who has been retired for several years and requires financial assistance from the government since she no longer works and has no source of income. On a regular basis, she receives a check from the federal government that helps her cover her living expenses. Which bureaucracy is Danica likely receiving her checks from?

A) the Social Security Administration
B) the Department of Motor Vehicles
C) the Consumer Protection Agency
D) the Government Accountability Office

Question 13

An organization that is established with a logical order to carry out specific functions is known as a ______.

A) bureaucracy
B) cabinet
C) government
D) private company

Question 14

What is the primary function of bureaucracies within the federal government?

A) to keep political parties organized
B) to monitor corruption within federal agencies
C) to hold Congress accountable to citizens
D) to carry out specific government roles

Question 15

How are bureaucracies organized?

A) by political party
B) by specialization
C) by annual income
D) by seniority

Question 16

What benefit do bureaucracies have to larger organizations?

A) Bureaucracies help large organizations function better by dividing work into specialized groups.
B) Bureaucracies allow organizations to get away with certain practices others cannot.
C) Bureaucracies help keep the larger organization accountable to its employees.
D) Bureaucracies prevent abuse within companies, colleges, and the government.

Question 17

Why do bureaucracies require standard operating procedures?

A) to better record the decisions made and provide proof of actions taken
B) to clearly delineate who has which responsibilities within the bureaucracy
C) to more easily identify corruption and malfeasance within the bureaucracy
D) to ensure that the functions of a bureaucracy are carried out smoothly and consistently

Question 18

Which branch of government has authority over most federal bureaucracies?

A) the judicial branch
B) the legislative branch
C) the executive branch
D) the states

Question 19

Human resources departments in companies and admissions offices in universities are examples of ______.

A) corrupt groups
B) unnecessary departments
C) bureaucracies
D) cabinet departments

Question 20

One way that the federal government ensures that Social Security benefits are not being abused or misused has been to establish certain requirements that must be met in order for someone to receive Social Security benefits. These requirements take a person's age and the number of years a person contributed to the Social Security system while working to determine a monthly benefit amount. These criteria that have been established by the Social Security Administration are considered ______.

A) unfair restrictions
B) regulations
C) oversight measures
D) qualification criteria

Question 21

Why does Congress conduct oversight into federal bureaucratic agencies?

A) to check the power of the agencies that have been granted additional authority
B) to make sure those agencies are following the rules specifically outlined by Congress on legislation
C) to be sure that the agencies are acting in the interests of lobbyist groups instead of the people
D) to provide additional resources for the agency to successfully form and implement legislation

Question 22

What would have likely resulted if President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not establish the Brownlow Committee?

A) The power of the president over the federal bureaucracy would have declined.
B) The executive branch would have expanded significantly both in size and scope of power.
C) The president would have been granted full authority over the federal bureaucracy.
D) The executive branch would have devolved most of its powers back to Congress or the states.

Question 23

Which federal bureaucratic agency was established in response to the industrialization of the late 1800s?

A) the Consumer Protection Agency
B) the Commerce Agency
C) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
D) the Securities and Exchange Commission

Question 24

Which conditions justified the federal government's increased intervention in the economy through several new bureaucratic agencies in last decades of the nineteenth century?

A) The economy went through a series of economic recessions.
B) Industrialization led to massive economic growth and new labor issues.
C) Large-scale immigration created a glut in the labor market.
D) The United States transitioned from an isolationist foreign policy to enter the global economy.

Question 25

Bureaucratic adjudication is distinct from administrative discretion in that it ______.

A) gives federal agencies oversight powers over Congress
B) is how Congress monitors the agencies it has delegated power to
C) is a means by which agencies self-monitor their delegated responsibilities
D) involves Congress delegating judicial rather than legislative powers

Question 26

How did the War of 1812 impact the size of the federal bureaucracy?

A) It increased the need for military support agencies and thus expanded the size of the bureaucracy.
B) The war highlighted the problems of a large federal government, so the bureaucracy shrank.
C) Extensive reconstruction efforts were required after the war, which required additional bureaucracies.
D) It exacerbated existing inadequacies in foreign policy and highlighted the need for more oversight.

Question 27

Congress is under pressure from the president to pass legislation establishing a system of universal health care. Because public opinion is split almost evenly on the issue, Congress is concerned about the political ramifications of passing the law. Many members are also unfamiliar with the intricacies of health care and the impact the bill may have on providers. Which course of action would Congress most likely take to address such concerns?

A) discuss the implications of the law with health care providers and administrators
B) convince the president to issue an executive order so they will be able to avoid blame
C) create a bill based on their existing knowledge and release it to measure public opinion
D) write vague legislation and assign responsibility for it to a specific bureaucratic organization

Question 28

George Washington's bureaucracy was made up of three agencies, including the Department of State, the Department of War, and the ______.

A) Department of the Interior
B) Department of Justice
C) Department of Agriculture
D) Department of Treasury

Question 29

What impact did the expansion of the United States to the West have on the size of the federal bureaucracy?

A) There was a reduction in the bureaucracy since the federal government had no control over the West.
B) The ability of people to successfully settle in the West showed there was no need for bureaucracy.
C) It showed the inadequacies of the existing bureaucracies to handle such expansion.
D) It highlighted the need for federal oversight into the settlement of new territories.

Question 30

Which department was part of George Washington's federal bureaucracy?

A) the Department of Agriculture
B) the Department of War
C) the Department of Justice
D) the Department of the Interior

Question 31

Why was it necessary for the federal bureaucracy to expand during the early 1800s?

A) A series of economic recessions created the need for government intervention to provide assistance to citizens.
B) The United States began to acquire more territories, which presented the need for more government.
C) Booming trade created a need for more agencies to regulate trade routes and negotiate terms.
D) The abolition of slavery increased the citizen population, which required a larger government.

Question 32

Which bureaucratic agency was established under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs?

A) the Department of Justice
B) the Bureau of Labor Statistics
C) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
D) the Securities and Exchange Commission

Question 33

Which action can Congress take if they believe an agency is abusing the legislative power that has been delegated to it?

A) Congress cannot take any action once it has delegated its authority to an agency.
B) Congress may reduce or eliminate the funding of an agency.
C) Congress may appoint their own head of an agency to replace the president's choice.
D) Congress may appeal to the president to eliminate the agency altogether.

Question 34

What is the main idea behind delegated congressional power?

A) Congress may pass some of its legislative authority to an agency if there is too much gridlock.
B) Congress may grant federal agencies the power to clarify legislation.
C) Congress delegates its power at the end of a session to push through more legislation.
D) Congress will delegate its legislative authority when it must confirm a series of appointments.

Question 35

Suppose it is the early 1800s and the United States has just acquired new lands to the west of the Mississippi. There is a lot of interest among Americans to move to these territory and settle there with their families. You have been appointed to a committee that is responsible for drafting up regulations to guide the expansion of settlers into this new territory, including how much land each individual or family is allotted and deciding where slavery will be permitted. Which organization are you part of?

A) the Department of Expansion
B) the Louisiana Purchase Committee
C) the Department of the Interior
D) the Land Acquisition and Settlement Board

Question 36

Suppose Congress has just given a federal agency the ability to form legislation regarding nuclear waste disposal. Although Congress is confident that this agency will be able to develop effective and efficient legislation, it still wants to make sure that the agency is taking appropriate actions on the law and wants to hold them accountable to the interests of the people instead of lobbyists who may seek to influence the agency. What is Congress's monitoring of this agency an example of?

A) delegation of authority
B) policy implementation
C) congressional oversight
D) administrative law

Question 37

What happens once Congress has delegated its legislative authority to a federal agency?

A) It gives up all control over the formation of that legislation.
B) Congress works with the agency to clear up vague parts of the law.
C) Congress monitors the agency's actions regarding the law.
D) The law may can no longer be modified by Congress.

Question 38

Laws that relate to the authority of administrative agencies and the rules made by those agencies is considered which type of law?

A) civil law
B) administrative law
C) professional law
D) congressional law

Question 39

Which statement describes the federal bureaucracy under George Washington?

A) The federal bureaucracy was expansive during the first years of the presidency.
B) George Washington maintained a large bureaucracy that was under his strict control.
C) The federal bureaucracy under George Washington was very limited.
D) Washington used the federal bureaucracy to take power away from Congress.

Question 40

Which federal bureaucracy was established for the purpose of managing westward expansion?

A) the Department of Agriculture
B) the Department of the Interior
C) the Department of Justice
D) the Department of Expansion

Question 41

Consider the events that have happened during the past few presidencies and the responses to those events. Which statement best describes the trend with regard to the size of the government in recent years?

A) There has been a recent trend toward a larger federal government.
B) Trends suggest that the government is getting smaller each year.
C) Data suggests that the government will continue to maintain its current size.
D) There has been no clear trend in the growth or decline of the government.

Question 42

Which president promised to reinvent the government by prioritizing accountability within the federal bureaucracy?

A) George H. W. Bush
B) Bill Clinton
C) Barack Obama
D) Donald Trump

Question 43

What is the process of the federal government giving power and responsibility back to the states known as?

A) privatization
B) deregulation
C) devolution
D) reinvention

Question 44

Suppose the federal government is being pressured by the president and the American public to further decrease the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy. What is one way the federal government can do this?

A) grant states full control over public policy issues like education and healthcare
B) establish a committee to evaluate where the government can cut back
C) reduce the size of the Senate by half and the House by one-third
D) eliminate the president's cabinet and other White House staff

Question 45

What is deregulation?

A) eliminating government oversight of certain activities
B) replacing government-provided services with privatized services
C) giving certain powers back to the states to handle
D) imposing new rules on certain policies and activities

Question 46

What is one benefit of privatization?

A) Market forces allow for competition, which drives down cost.
B) Private companies can charge whatever they want for a service.
C) The government still makes money via taxes on private companies.
D) Private corporations are held to the same standards as the government.

Question 47

What is the primary function of the U.S. Department of Labor?

A) to maintain worker health, safety, and productivity and compiling data on the workforce
B) to provide government jobs during times of economic hardship and high unemployment
C) to conduct polling on the public perception of the health of the economy
D) to report the unemployment rate to the president each quarter

Question 48

What happened to prompt a period of devolution in the 1980s?

A) There was a counter-reaction to government growth under the New Deal and Great Society.
B) Conservative presidents and conservative Congresses wanted to shrink the government.
C) The American people voiced their concern over such a large federal government.
D) Protests against the control of the federal government erupted across the country.

Question 49

What impact does deregulation have on the federal government?

A) It concentrates the authority over an activity in one central agency.
B) It increases the number of regulatory agencies in the federal government.
C) It boosts the authority of regulatory agencies while decreasing the number of agencies.
D) It leads to a decrease in the size and scope of the federal government.

Question 50

What role does the secretary of a cabinet department play in the federal bureaucracy?

A) The secretary is in charge of conducting oversight into their department.
B) The secretary reports directly to the president on certain policy matters.
C) The secretary is responsible for drafting bills to be introduced into Congress.
D) The secretary has the authority to report legislation pertaining to their specialization.

Question 51

What incentive is there for the government to deregulate certain industries and activities?

A) Deregulation gives the federal government more control over private industries and the activities of private citizens.
B) Deregulation allows the government to establish additional bureaucracies to determine which regulations can be eliminated.
C) Deregulation helps the government understand how effective its oversight functions are in some industries compared to others.
D) Deregulation eases the burden of government oversight in certain industries and decreases the scope of government.

Question 52

In the 1990s, many of the social welfare programs that had been previously handled by the federal government were left up to the states to handle. Some states implemented stricter criteria for qualifying for welfare benefits and imposed limits on how long a person could receive those benefits. Each state has adopted different requirements and imposed different limitations on their welfare programs, which is a result of ______.

A) corruption
B) discrimination
C) devolution
D) privatization

Question 53

Replacing services that the government used to provide with services that are now provided by private companies is known as ______.

A) deregulation
B) devolution
C) privatization
D) reformation

Question 54

How are cabinet department secretaries selected?

A) They are voted in by the American people.
B) Secretaries are chosen based on qualifications and merit.
C) The president nominates and the Senate confirms them.
D) They are hired as members of the federal workforce.

Question 55

Which industry experienced deregulation in the 1970s and 1980s?

A) manufacturing
B) transportation
C) service and hospitality
D) health care

Question 56

It is the 1960s, and Dolores is an elderly woman who must receive weekly dialysis treatments for her kidney failure. Since she has been out of work for a few years, she is unable to afford the costs of her treatments each week and is hopeful that a new program like Social Security can be passed to help her pay for these treatments. Which program is Dolores most likely to support?

A) President Johnson's Great Society program
B) President Roosevelt's New Deal program
C) President Clinton's proposal for universal health care
D) President Kennedy's health care reform bill

Question 57

One of the looming concerns for some current generations and future generations is that Social Security will run out and post-retirement benefits will not be available to them. One way that lawmakers have proposed to solve this problem is to establish a system in which every worker has their own retirement savings account where a portion of their paycheck goes each pay period. So, instead of going to a pooled retirement fund for everyone to draw from, that money is set aside for that individual upon retirement. What is this proposed plan an example of?

A) deregulation
B) devolution
C) privatization
D) corrupt capitalism

Question 58

Which event caused a significant increase in the defense budget and the number of programs to support intelligence operations?

A) the Cold War
B) World War I
C) World War II
D) the Great Depression

Question 59

What is the underlying concept of privatization?

A) The government is too small to effectively and efficiently provide citizens with services.
B) Private companies adapt and compete against each other to provide better services at a lower cost.
C) Government-provided services hurt the economy due to market manipulation.
D) The services provided by the government are the result of private research and development.

Question 60

What are the 15 major administrative organizations within the executive branch called?

A) the cabinet
B) regulatory agencies
C) the executive bureaucracy
D) independent agencies

Question 61

What do the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission have in common?

A) They were both established by FDR under the New Deal.
B) Both agencies were established under the Great Society.
C) They are both part of the president's cabinet.
D) Both of them are regulatory agencies.

Question 62

Suppose a farmer has been fined for unsafe levels of a particular chemical in a river on his farmland. The unsafe levels of this chemical are due to a fertilizer the farmer has been using for years, and he is now being compelled to consider a different fertilizer option or face additional fines. Which agency likely issued this fine to the farmer?

A) the Consumer Product Safety Commission
B) the Department of Agriculture
C) the Environmental Protection Agency
D) the Department of Labor

Question 63

Why are regulatory agencies important to the operation of the federal government?

A) They advise the president on important policies related to a narrow scope of issues.
B) They benefit the economy by promoting deregulation, competition, and privatization.
C) They allow private companies to operate freely without strict government oversight.
D) They work to reduce corrupt fiscal practices and promote fairness in the economy.

Question 64

As of July 2019, Mark Esper was appointed to the president's cabinet and became responsible for managing the armed forces. Which cabinet department was Esper appointed to?

A) the Department of Labor
B) the Department of Defense
C) the Department of Justice
D) the Department of Education

Question 65

Which statement describes the spoils system implemented by Andrew Jackson?

A) Those who supported the president throughout his campaign were awarded jobs in the government.
B) Those who came from upper-class families and were well-educated got jobs in the government.
C) Only those who had the means of contributing to the political party were awarded government jobs.
D) Applicants who were well-qualified, educated, and had prior experience were offered jobs.

Question 66

The career professionals in the federal workforce who maintain their position, even when the president leaves office, are part of which group?

A) the Senior Executive Service
B) the president's cabinet
C) regulatory agents
D) House and Senate committees

Question 67

Who was responsible for spearheading a more diverse workforce within the civil service?

A) Thomas Jefferson
B) John Adams
C) Andrew Jackson
D) Abraham Lincoln

Question 68

What is the relationship between independent agencies and the president?

A) Independent agencies represent private businesses and discuss economic policy with the president.
B) Independent agencies provide indirect advice to the president by way of cabinet departments.
C) Independent agencies work closely with the president to tackle broad policy issues.
D) Independent agencies report directly to the president on matters that involve specific policy issues.

Question 69

How do presidential appointments differ from senior executives?

A) Presidential appointments generally stay in their position after the president has left office, while senior executives do not.
B) Presidential appointments do not require the confirmation of the Senate, whereas senior executives must be confirmed.
C) Presidential appointments are selected based on political orientation, while senior executives are selected based on merit.
D) The president makes appointments largely based on qualifications, while senior executives are hired based on party identification.

Question 70

Which type of organization has the authority to implement rules that guide individual or corporate conduct within the economy?

A) independent agencies
B) government corporations
C) regulatory agencies
D) cabinet departments

Question 71

How can organizations like the United States Postal Service and Amtrak be classified?

A) as regulatory agencies
B) as part of the president's cabinet
C) as government corporations
D) as private corporations

Question 72

Who manages the Executive Office of the President?

A) the first lady
B) the president
C) the White House chief of staff
D) the vice president

Question 73

Which type of organization focuses on specific policy areas and is not considered part of any cabinet department?

A) the White House staff
B) independent agencies
C) regulatory agencies
D) oversight committees

Question 74

Which statement summarizes the responsibilities of the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?

A) The EOP is primarily responsible for assisting the first lady with her policy initiatives.
B) The EOP is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the White House.
C) The EOP has full control over the federal bureaucracy to lessen the president's workload.
D) The EOP provides advice and helps the president manage the rest of the bureaucracy.

Question 75

What is the main idea behind government corporations?

A) The government is able to provide certain services at a lower cost and higher quality than private companies.
B) There is demand for the services provided by the corporation, which serves an important public purpose.
C) Just as the government privatizes certain services, private companies shift a service over to the government's control.
D) The government has enough tax revenue to set up a company that provides a benefit to the public for free.

Question 76

What is the main reason why members of the civil service are hired based on qualifications and education?

A) Other hiring practices are considered to be discriminatory and therefore illegal.
B) Hiring based on qualifications helps insulate these workers from partisan politics.
C) The civil service requires workers who are highly skilled and trained in technical areas.
D) Other hiring practices have historically led to overly qualified candidates.

Question 77

Alexandra works for the federal government and has worked with her team over the course of three presidencies. Part of her responsibilities are to work closely with the president's appointees to discuss policy options and make sure each administration is abiding by the rules and regulations set by their predecessors. Alexandra is most likely part of which group?

A) the civil service
B) the Senior Executive Service
C) the cabinet
D) a regulator agency

Question 78

Members of the Senior Executive Service are selected based on ______.

A) their previous support of the president
B) their party affiliation
C) their relationship with the president
D) their background, education, and experience

Question 79

The vast majority of the federal bureaucracy is known as the ______.

A) civil service
B) cabinet
C) Senior Executive Service
D) executive department

Question 80

What is the primary function of the Senior Executive Service?

A) to work closely with the president on policy formation
B) to help the president's political party develop a party platform
C) to provide stability in leadership within the federal government
D) to act as an intermediary between the president and Congress