Deck 13: Bureaucracy

Question 1

Presidents are often frustrated with the bureaucracy. Why might conflict exist between the goals and desires of the president and the goals and desires of career members of the federal bureaucracy?

Answer 1

Conflict between the goals and desires of the president and career members of the federal bureaucracy can arise due to a variety of reasons.

Firstly, the president is an elected official with a specific agenda and vision for the country, which may not align with the long-term goals and desires of career bureaucrats. Bureaucrats are often focused on maintaining stability and continuity in their agencies, which can sometimes clash with the president's desire for change and reform.

Additionally, career members of the federal bureaucracy may have their own professional and institutional interests that differ from the president's agenda. They may be resistant to change or new policies that could disrupt their established ways of doing things or threaten their job security.

Furthermore, the president's political appointees may also clash with career bureaucrats, as they may have different priorities and loyalties. This can create tension and conflict within the bureaucracy, as career members may feel pressure to comply with the president's agenda while also trying to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of their agencies.

Overall, conflict between the goals and desires of the president and career members of the federal bureaucracy is a natural result of the different perspectives, priorities, and interests at play within the complex and diverse federal government.

Question 2

Progressive-era reformers hoped to take politics out of public administration. Did they succeed? Is it possible or desirable to remove politics from the provision of public services?

Answer 2

Progressive-era reformers did make significant strides in attempting to take politics out of public administration. They implemented civil service reforms, which aimed to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system for hiring and promoting government employees. They also advocated for the creation of independent regulatory agencies to oversee certain industries and protect the public interest.

However, it is difficult to say whether they ultimately succeeded in completely removing politics from public administration. While these reforms certainly reduced the influence of political patronage and corruption, politics still plays a significant role in the provision of public services. Elected officials make decisions about funding, resource allocation, and policy priorities, all of which have political implications.

Furthermore, it may not be entirely possible or desirable to completely remove politics from the provision of public services. Politics is inherently tied to the allocation of resources and the prioritization of certain policies over others. It is important for elected officials to have some level of influence over public administration in order to represent the interests and values of the communities they serve.

That being said, it is crucial to have mechanisms in place to ensure that public administration is conducted in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner. This includes strong ethical standards, oversight by independent bodies, and opportunities for public input and participation. While it may not be feasible to completely divorce politics from public administration, it is essential to strive for a system that prioritizes the public good over partisan interests.

Question 3

Government agencies often look to interest groups to support their goals and programs. To what sort of interest groups might the Department of Agriculture, for example, look for support?

Answer 3

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) might look for support from a variety of interest groups that align with its goals and programs. These interest groups can range from those representing farmers and producers to those focused on nutrition, conservation, and rural development. Here are some examples of the types of interest groups the USDA might engage with:

1. **Farmers' Associations and Cooperatives**: Organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, and various commodity-specific groups (e.g., National Corn Growers Association, United Soybean Board) represent the interests of farmers and can provide support for policies that benefit agriculture.

2. **Agricultural Business and Trade Groups**: These include groups like the National Association of Wheat Growers, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, and the National Milk Producers Federation, which represent the business interests of specific agricultural sectors.

3. **Conservation and Environmental Groups**: Organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Sierra Club may support USDA programs that promote sustainable farming practices, conservation of natural resources, and protection of wildlife habitats.

4. **Food Security and Nutrition Advocacy Groups**: Groups like Feeding America or the Food Research & Action Center might support USDA initiatives aimed at improving food security and nutrition, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and school lunch programs.

5. **Rural Development Organizations**: These groups, including the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and the National Rural Housing Coalition, focus on the development and prosperity of rural communities, which is a key concern of the USDA.

6. **Research and Academic Institutions**: Universities and research institutions with agricultural programs often collaborate with the USDA on research initiatives and support evidence-based policy development.

7. **Forestry and Timber Industry Groups**: Since the USDA also oversees the United States Forest Service, it may work with groups like the American Forest & Paper Association to promote sustainable forest management and the timber industry.

8. **Animal Welfare Organizations**: Groups such as the Humane Society of the United States may engage with the USDA on issues related to animal welfare standards in farming practices.

9. **Organic and Specialty Crop Advocates**: Organizations like the Organic Trade Association and local farmers' market associations may support USDA programs that promote organic agriculture and specialty crops.

10. **Technology and Innovation Companies**: Companies and groups that focus on agricultural technology, such as precision farming and biotechnology firms, may support USDA efforts to advance innovation in agriculture.

By collaborating with these and other interest groups, the USDA can leverage their expertise, influence, and networks to further its objectives, gain insights into industry and consumer needs, and enhance the effectiveness of its programs.

Question 4

When the Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002, the Bush administration tried to limit civil service protections for many of its employees. What were some of the reasons advanced for this effort? What might be some good arguments against limiting such protections?

Question 5

Despite laws to protect them, whistle-blowers pay a high price for their honesty. What reforms might be needed to further protect whistle-blowers and encourage others to come forward with reports of corruption and waste?

Question 6

The authors state that there are about 2.6 million civilian federal workers. Professor Paul Light has suggested that the federal government "uses contracts, grants, and mandates to state and local governments to hide its true size, thereby creating the illusion that it is smaller than it actually is, and give its departments and agencies much greater flexibility in hiring labor, thereby creating the illusion that the civil-service system is somehow working effectively." If he is correct, what sort of reforms might be necessary to get a clearer picture of federal employment and improve bureaucratic performance?

Question 7

How did the failure of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to successfully address the problems caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 lead to reforms in that agency? Why was FEMA more successful in dealing with Hurricane Sandy in 2012?

Question 8

"Fannie Mae" originally dealt with:

A) Mortgages
B) Construction
C) Stock investments
D) Estates and trusts

Question 9

"Sallie Mae" originally began as a government-sponsored enterprise designed to promote:

A) Fairness in advertising
B) Commercial regulation of professional sports
C) Equal pay for equal work
D) Low-cost loans to students

Question 10

"To the victor go the spoils" was an expression that was followed in the federal bureaucracy under the system of:

A) Civil service
B) Parochialism
C) Patronage
D) Merit

Question 11

According to the myth of bureaucratic incompetence, the federal bureaucracy should run like a:

A) Military organization
B) Private business
C) State agency
D) Foreign company

Question 12

According to the text, ____ has increasingly become the preferred way of doing the government's business.

A) co-opting
B) capturing
C) micromanaging
D) outsourcing

Question 13

After World War II, the federal bureaucracy expanded to meet the needs of Americans by:

A) Increasing access to mass transportation
B) Expanding the power of banks to meet loan needs
C) Building more housing in rural areas
D) Providing financial aid and employment to the poor

Question 14

The federal government responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks almost immediately by creating:

A) The Homeland Security Organization
B) The World Trade Organization
C) The World Trade Commission
D) The Office of Homeland Security

Question 15

All of the following are bureaus and divisions under the U.S. Department of Treasury EXCEPT:

A) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
B) The Bureau of Public Debt
C) The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
D) The National Assessment Governing Board

Question 16

Americans were given the right to sue the federal government for damages incurred through governmental actions when the ____ was passed in 1946.

A) Taft-Hartley Act
B) Administrative Procedure Act
C) Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
D) Federal Tort Claims Act

Question 17

An indicator of the growth of the federal bureaucracy is the:

A) Increase in Social Security applications
B) Takeover by many governmental agencies of the private sector workforce
C) Demand by the public for more agencies to deal with security issues
D) Growing federal budget

Question 18

An inspector general's office exists to:

A) Provide advice to bureaucrats with discretion
B) Investigate complaints or suspicious behavior
C) Interpret broadly constructed congressional statutes
D) Publicize the accomplishments of agencies

Question 19

Andrew Jackson saw the political appointment process as a means to promote:

A) Democracy
B) Federalism
C) National supremacy
D) Transparency

Question 20

The merit-based civil service system was created by:

A) The Bureaucratic Performance Act
B) The Pendleton Act
C) The Government Accountability Control Act
D) The Constitution

Question 21

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

A) Inefficient supervision by the White House
B) The continuation of a patronage system
C) Contradictory expectations of the public
D) Ambiguous executive directives

Question 22

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

A) Cabinet departments
B) Government corporations
C) Regulatory commissions
D) Legislative commercial enterprises

Question 23

Congress can control or limit bureaucratic power:

A) By expanding or narrowing an agency's authority to take action
B) Through judicial means
C) By carrying out political agendas
D) By passing new legislation

Question 24

An iron triangle is a(n):

A) Alliance of bureaucrats, lobbyists, and congressional committee leaders who work together to defend their common interests
B) Network of bureaucratic interests to promote reform
C) Alignment of executive, legislative, and judicial powers to stop the growth of the bureaucracy
D) Coalition of three government agencies to defend their exercise of bureaucratic power

Question 25

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

A) Richard Serino
B) James Lee Witt
C) James McNamara
D) Brad Kieserman

Question 26

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

A) The Department of Homeland Security
B) The Cabinet
C) Congress
D) The president

Question 27

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

A) Clientelism
B) Pathological incrementalism
C) Parochialism
D) Imperialism

Question 28

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

A) Civil service reform
B) Legislative control
C) Proxy administration
D) Bureaucratic imperialism

Question 29

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:

A) Merit
B) Expertise
C) Longevity
D) Discretion

Question 30

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

A) Discretion
B) Imperialism
C) Clientelism
D) Incrementalism

Question 31

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):

A) Executive service system
B) Career system
C) Spoils system
D) Merit system

Question 32

There are currently about ____ million nonelected civilian federal workers.

A) 1
B) 1.8
C) 2.7
D) 30

Question 33

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

A) A means to enhance his personal wealth
B) A way to get even with his enemies
C) A way to open up government positions to ordinary Americans
D) A method of taming the legislature

Question 34

In the early republic, patronage was used to:

A) Reward supporters
B) Offset political divisions within the country
C) Provide access to positions of power in the government
D) All of the above

Question 35

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

A) Tighten restrictions on air control
B) Examine the CAB's capabilities as an authoritative agency
C) Restrict the amount of planes flying into busier airports
D) Deregulate the airline industry

Question 36

Incrementalism would be evident in bureaucratic behavior if an agency:

A) Focused exclusively on the job it was doing without any regard for broader repercussions
B) Sought to expand its power to include new responsibilities and personnel
C) Showed favoritism toward a special interest group it served
D) Resisted change except in very small steps

Question 37

John F. Kennedy issued a mandate calling for:

A) An end to poverty by 1980
B) An end to racial discrimination by 1975
C) A reorganization of the judiciary by 1980
D) The landing of an American on the moon by 1970

Question 38

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

A) Reflected badly on every government agency
B) Prompted a lackluster response in later emergencies
C) Lowered morale among people worldwide
D) Was a turning point in the Bush presidency from which it never recovered politically

Question 39

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

A) Council on Environmental Quality
B) Office of National Drug Control Policy
C) Office of Management and Budget
D) National Economic Council

Question 40

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

A) Based on merit
B) Streamlined and shifted to the states
C) Redesigned to require a great deal of expertise
D) Redesigned to be simple and less demanding

Question 41

Organizations like the U.S. Postal Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority are classified as government corporations because they were designed to:

A) Monitor the activities of bureaucratic agencies
B) Carry out important Cabinet-level functions of national government
C) Exercise quasi-judicial functions
D) Operate like profitable private businesses

Question 42

President James Garfield's assassination and the Pendleton Act of 1883 led to the creation of:

A) The federal spoils system
B) The federal prison system
C) The civil service merit system
D) The government patronage system

Question 43

Prior to the Civil War, most civilian employees in the federal bureaucracy were:

A) Welfare agents
B) Postal workers
C) Railroad regulators
D) Forest Service rangers

Question 44

Sallie Mae and Fannie Mae are examples of:

A) Government-sponsored enterprises
B) Government contractors
C) Sub-Cabinet agencies
D) Cozy triangles

Question 45

Some of the courts' power over the federal bureaucracy stems from constitutional provisions such as:

A) The power to overturn the Sixteenth Amendment regarding slavery
B) The power to dictate the acceptance of foreign gifts
C) The power to change immigration laws
D) The prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures

Question 46

Some reformers believe that problems of government incompetence can be resolved by:

A) Cutting unnecessary programs
B) Agency decentralization
C) Increasing congressional checks and balances
D) Agency reorganization

Question 47

Some well-known federal operations, like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and, most recently, the Social Security Administration, are organized as:

A) Public cooperatives
B) Independent agencies
C) Private commissions
D) Sub-Cabinet departments

Question 48

The "Plum Book," also known officially as the U.S. Government Policy and Supporting Positions, contains:

A) The names and background of every member of Congress
B) Information on how to find a job with the government
C) The names and positions of individuals who hold "noncompetitive" appointment positions at almost every government agency
D) The names of presidential appointees from the time of the ratification of the Constitution

Question 49

Which of the following is an example of government privatization?

A) Using state employees to administer federal programs
B) The Office of Management and Budget
C) Federal Express
D) The Department of Justice contracting with private prisons to hold federal prisoners

Question 50

The Constitution gives the president:

A) Responsibility for ensuring that the laws of Congress are being carried out
B) Complete and total power over the bureaucracy
C) Almost no authority over the government bureaucracy
D) The power to do whatever is necessary and proper to carry out congressional mandates

Question 51

FEMA was created in:

A) 1956
B) 1961
C) 1979
D) 1992

Question 52

The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to information from:

A) The courts or Congress
B) Newspapers
C) State tax records
D) Intergovernmental agencies

Question 53

The Senior Executive Service (SES) was created for:

A) Bureaucrats nearing retirement to help with retirement planning
B) Career public administrators who manage agencies
C) Andrew Jackson, in order to circumvent congressional power
D) The Social Security Administration

Question 54

The Cabinet department that is headed by a position other than that of "secretary" is the:

A) Defense Department
B) Department of the Interior
C) Justice Department
D) State Department

Question 55

The federal government indirectly aids the economic sector by providing local financial institutions with aid to help home buyers, small business owners, and farmers through:

A) Grants
B) Bank loan guarantees
C) Block projects
D) Special trust funds

Question 56

The heads of the major departments of the U.S. government, most of whom hold the title of secretary, make up the:

A) Cabinet
B) State Department
C) Office of Management and Budget
D) White House staff

Question 57

The merit system is an important source of bureaucratic power because it:

A) Ensures that a bureaucrat's advice will be taken
B) Protects bureaucrats from dismissal for political reasons
C) Ensures widespread public support for the bureaucracy
D) Gives bureaucrats the freedom to implement vague policy decisions

Question 58

The myth of an unresponsive bureaucracy is revealed in public opinion polls in which many people say that the government:

A) Wastes a great deal of money
B) Cannot be trusted to do the right thing
C) Does not operate as efficiently as private business
D) Does not operate in the interest of ordinary people

Question 59

The myth of bureaucratic incompetence has emerged because:

A) Of the drastic results in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when government agencies did not respond well
B) Of the cumbersome and divergent ways in which most government agencies have been set up and are run
C) Most government programs do not seem to measure up to private sector standards
D) The personnel in agencies run by the government are not professionally trained and thus slow the system's response time when disaster strikes

Question 60

The profile of civilian employees of the federal bureaucracy reveals that the majority:

A) Have worked in the system for fewer than five years
B) Are women with college degrees
C) Are members of minority groups
D) Hold white-collar jobs

Question 61

Andrew Jackson believed:

A) Government positions should be filled based solely on merit
B) In the need for "rotation in office"
C) In a substantial expansion in the size of the federal bureaucracy
D) That government positions should be given to the elite of society

Question 62

The role of government contractors has grown to become approximately ____ of federal funds spent on public sector goods and services.

A) 25%
B) 45%
C) 50%
D) 60%

Question 63

The size of the federal bureaucracy increased dramatically in the twentieth century with the creation of new social programs under president:

A) Ronald Reagan
B) Lyndon Johnson
C) Franklin Roosevelt
D) Theodore Roosevelt

Question 64

The successful expansion of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is an example of the origins of bureaucratic power in:

A) Discretion and tact
B) The merit system
C) Money and corruption
D) Public support

Question 65

The term "bureaucracy" can be loosely applied to everyone employed by the federal government, including the approximately ____ individuals on active duty in the military.

A) 1.4 million
B) 1.1 million
C) 775,000
D) 550,000

Question 66

The term "lifeblood of administration" refers to:

A) A nickname given to President G. W. Bush while he held office
B) The need for strong leadership in administrative offices
C) The bureaucratic power the government agencies must possess in order to function successfully
D) The type of work agencies must perform

Question 67

The two most pervasive myths about the federal bureaucracy portray it as:

A) Incompetent and unresponsive
B) Incomplete and unremitting
C) Inconclusive and unreliable
D) Incompatible and unrewarding

Question 68

The two-year investigation into the IRS that led to administrative changes in that agency was focused on:

A) Increasing the number of audits
B) Making the IRS more customer friendly
C) Increasing tax collections
D) Catching corporate tax evaders

Question 69

The unitary executive theory pictures the president as:

A) An important member of the bureaucracy
B) A key coordinator of the bureaucracy
C) The head bureaucrat
D) Separate from the bureaucracy in most respects

Question 70

The use of the spoils system in the United States eventually led to:

A) Greater stability and professionalism
B) The perception of increased corruption
C) Disloyalty to the president
D) A lack of standardization

Question 71

The vast majority of federal civilian jobs now fall under the:

A) General civil service system
B) Executive service system
C) Career service personnel system
D) Patronage system

Question 72

There are ____ major cabinet departments.

A) seven
B) nine
C) twelve
D) fifteen

Question 73

Today, courts ____ entertain cases challenging the authority given to federal agencies by Congress.

A) refuse to
B) frequently
C) are not permitted to
D) are not likely to

Question 74

Under Weber's model of the "ideal type" of bureaucracy, the bureaucracy should:

A) Have broad authority and responsibilities
B) Follow hierarchical principles and have clearly defined jurisdictions
C) Be led by successful and experienced businessmen
D) Have rules in place that uphold the basic tenets of the Constitution

Question 75

What kind of governmental agencies exist, free of political interference, to formulate and enforce government rules in various economic areas?

A) Cabinet departments
B) Regulatory commissions
C) Government corporations
D) Executive branch agencies

Question 76

When General Billy Mitchell sank a warship from air, he drew attention to the military's problem with:

A) Clientelism
B) Pathological incrementalism
C) Arbitrariness
D) Parochialism

Question 77

When bureaucrats in the EPA formed a coalition with members of Congress, environmental organizations, and the media to conduct a public campaign to raise concern about air pollution, this was an example of:

A) An issue network
B) Proxy administration
C) A cozy triangle
D) Bureaucratic arbitrariness

Question 78

When government agencies compete with each other for the same set of authorizations or appropriations, this can:

A) Expose their weaknesses
B) Result in citizens receiving fair service
C) Limit their bureaucratic power
D) Deter dishonesty in business practices

Question 79

When standard operating procedures seem to interfere with responsiveness or replace common sense, this illustrates the bureaucratic pathology known as:

A) Clientelism
B) Pathological incrementalism
C) Arbitrariness
D) Parochialism

Question 80

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) holds hearings to decide whether to revoke the broadcasting license of a radio station, what kind of task is it performing?

A) Quasi-executive
B) Quasi-legislative
C) Quasi-judicial
D) Quasi-corporate