Deck 9: Ethics and Government

Question 1

The appearance of impropriety is often at issue in government ethics cases.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Mr. Wolfowitz was forced to resign because of his participation in a performance evaluation.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Rep. Charlie Rangel stepped down from his chairmanship as ethics charges were pending.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A division of Ohio state government ran a check on "Joe the Plumber" after he asked then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a question about redistribution of wealth.

Question 5

The head of a regulatory agency cannot accept free tickets from a company the agency regulates.

Question 6

A member of the city council who is employed by a waste management firm would have a conflict of interest in voting on the city's award of a contract for the handling of the city's waste.

Question 7

You work for a school district as a facilities coordinator. You drive to the various schools in the district and supervise construction and remodeling and assess various building needs. When you are traveling around to the various schools, you use a district vehicle that is clearly marked as such. One day you stop at the country club and have lunch before heading to the next school since the country club is on the way. You also stop at the bank drive-thru teller to do some personal banking business. Both the lunch and the bank stop are ethical breaches.

Question 8

IRS employees cannot use data they obtain through files for private purposes.

Question 9

The mayor owns property next to one of the proposed sites for the city's new baseball stadium. The mayor has a conflict of interest and should not vote on the location of the stadium when the city council takes action on the site.

Question 10

A newspaper reporter is interviewing you about your experiences in working for a member of Congress. You have indicated you have information about his private life but will not share it. The reporter responds, "Tell me, just between you and me." You share the information and a quote from you on the private life of the member of Congress appears in the newspaper the next day. The reporter was unethical in violating a trust.

Question 11

A state education department administrator cannot award a contract to a company in which he holds an ownership interest.

Question 12

A county commissioner who makes decisions on construction permits and zoning exceptions and approaches a hotel builder to lease space for her clothing store in his new hotel while his application for zoning and construction are pending has done nothing unethical.

Question 13

A regulator who represented a company just prior to taking office cannot preside over administrative hearings involving the company.

Question 14

A judge whose wife is representing a defendant cannot serve as the trial judge in the case.

Question 15

You are a building inspector for the county. A friend of yours is a plumbing contractor. Under county regulations, all steps in plumbing construction from the initial dig to the final installation of sink and bathroom fixtures requires an inspection sign-off. Your plumbing contractor friend has just called and wants to take you to dinner for your birthday at a five-star restaurant. Because you are friends anyway, the dinner presents no ethical problems.

Question 16

The city employee who manages the finances for a football stadium that is a joint venture between the city and the football team can accept tickets, dinners, and team clothing items without raising conflicts issues.

Question 17

A state employee who is making a decision on the medical insurer for the state must disqualify herself if her spouse works for the insurer.

Question 18

Rep. Charlie Rangel was convicted of a crime.

Question 19

The Ohio state government acted properly when it ran a records check on "Joe the Plumber" after he asked then presidential candidate Barack Obama a question.

Question 20

IRS employees commit an ethical violation when they go through others' income tax returns.

Question 21

Whose performance evaluation and pay increase did World Bank CEO Paul Wolfowitz participate in?

A) All of the officers of the bank
B) Shaza Riza, his girlfriend and an executive at the bank
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 22

Former FEMA director Michael Brown communicated with FEMA staff members during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina about:

A) Getting supplies to New Orleans.
B) His outfit from Nordstrom's.
C) Getting additional help from corporations.
D) None of the above

Question 23

What was the major issue uncovered in the Colorado MMS audit?

A) Embezzlement
B) Inflated travel expenses
C) Conflicts of interest
D) A waiver of the ethics policy

Question 24

What was the American Bar Association's position on enhanced interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration?

A) That the tactics were not in violation of either U.S. or international law
B) That the tactics were in violation of U.S. and international law
C) That the tactics were not in violation of U.S. law, but were in violation of international law
D) That the tactics were in violation of U.S. law, but were not in violation of international law

Question 25

Why was Ms. Druyun's sentenced increased from six- to nine-months?

A) The judge had not applied the sentencing law correctly
B) Because Mr. Sears was sentenced to nine months
C) Because she had lied to federal investigators
D) Both a and c

Question 26

Former Prosecutor Michael Nifong of Durham County, North Carolina:

A) Withheld evidence from defense attorneys.
B) Conducted line-ups inappropriately.
C) Embezzled from the county.
D) Both a and b
E) a, b and c

Question 27

Mr. Wolfowitz had been instructed by his board:

A) To participate in the evaluation of Shaza Riza.
B) To not participate in the evaluation of Shaza Riza.
C) To supervise the evaluation of Shaza Riza.
D) None of the above

Question 28

The MMS had investigations of which two divisions?

A) DC and Colorado
B) DC and Louisiana
C) Colorado and Louisiana
D) Colorado only

Question 29

The Duke LaCrosse players:

A) Were ultimately found guilty of some criminal charges.
B) Were exonerated by the North Carolina attorney general.
C) Had their charges dropped by Michael Nifong.
D) None of the above

Question 30

There were no disciplinary actions taken against Ohio state employees who ran checks on "Joe the Plumber".

Question 31

Which of the following was NOpart of the ethics charges brought against Congressman Charles Rangel?

A) Receiving bribes
B) Failure to report income
C) Soliciting private donations on House stationery
D) Hiring relatives for his office's work

Question 32

The crux of Mr. Blagojevich's defense was:

A) "That's the way it has always been done."
B) "It's a gray area."
C) There was no conflict.
D) Phone conversations are not evidence of a crime.

Question 33

The Kodak employee had an arrangement with:

A) An appraiser.
B) An assessor.
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 34

Where did Ms. Druyun first cross an ethical line in her relationship with Boeing?

A) When she mentioned she was retiring
B) When her daughter was hired at Boeing
C) When her daughter mentioned to Mr. Sears that her mother was retiring
D) None of the above

Question 35

The North Carolina State Bar:

A) Accepted Mr. Nifong's resignation as DA as sufficient punishment.
B) Disbarred Mr. Nifong.
C) Censured Mr. Nifong.
D) Found no violations of the professional code of ethics by Mr. Nifong.

Question 36

In the "Joe the Plumber" case, the Ohio Inspector General found:

A) That the Department of Job and Family Services routinely ran checks of people in the news and "Joe the Plumber" was not singled out for investigation.
B) That there were no policies or procedures to support pulling up the information on "Joe the Plumber".
C) That Helen Jones-Kelley had done nothing wrong.
D) That the deputies in the office had done nothing wrong.

Question 37

Former Governor Rod Blagojevich:

A) Was convicted of asking for kickbacks.
B) Was convicted of bribery.
C) Was convicted of lying to the FBI.
D) Was acquitted on all charges.

Question 38

In the Darlene Druyun/Boeing case, what laws were violated?

A) Federal procurement statutes
B) Antitrust laws
C) Federal securities laws
D) Both a and b