Deck 11: Public Policy and Public Administration

Question 1

The deal made between Democrats and Republicans in 2018 to fund the federal government-which included disagreements over the DACA-focused on completing which type of action?

A) continuing resolution
B) executive order
C) reconciliation
D) policy adoption

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Public policy is ______.

A) the implementation of government policy
B) the rules and norms through and under which political actors behave
C) government-defined solutions to societal and governmental problems
D) the authoritative distribution of resources (who gets what, when, and how)

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Public administration is ______.

A) the implementation of government policy
B) the rules and norms through and under which political actors behave
C) government-defined solutions to societal and governmental problems
D) the authoritative distribution of resources (who gets what, when, and how)

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Kingdon argues that agenda setting requires ______.

A) considering a problem, determining the existence of a solution, and the political will to deal with it
B) bargaining and negotiation amongst policymakers to devise an acceptable solution to a policy problem
C) the process of selection, legislation, and passing of policy by decision makers and elected politicians
D) assessment of whether a policy is working or not, and what can be done to improve it if needed

Question 5

In the agenda setting process, which of the following political institutions is considered majoritarian?

A) Executive Branch
B) House of Representatives
C) Judiciary
D) Senate

Question 6

In the agenda setting process, which of the following political institutions can use the media to influence the entire policymaking process?

A) Executive Branch
B) House of Representatives
C) Judiciary
D) Senate

Question 7

Policy formulation involves ______.

A) considering a problem, determining the existence of a solution, and the political will to deal with it
B) bargaining and negotiation amongst policymakers to devise an acceptable solution to a policy problem
C) the process of selection, legislation, and passing of policy by decision makers and elected politicians
D) determining the meaning of (often vague) terms and how policies will be put into practice

Question 8

Policymaking is considered 'top-down' when it is driven by political actors ______.

A) like the president and/or Congress
B) such as bureaucrats who then seek approval from other policymakers
C) including social movements and ordinary citizens
D) that are organizations with policy goals that work within the policymaking process

Question 9

In the study of public policy, which of the following types of policymaking is driven mainly by bureaucrats?

A) bottom-up
B) grassroots
C) interest-groups
D) top-down

Question 10

The study of roll call voting behavior among legislators is an example of the study of which of the stages of the policymaking process?

A) agenda setting
B) policy formulation
C) policy adoption
D) evaluation

Question 11

Policy adoption involves ______.

A) considering a problem, determining the existence of a solution, and the political will to deal with it
B) bargaining and negotiation amongst policymakers to devise an acceptable solution to a policy problem
C) the process of selection, legislation, and passing of policy by decision makers and elected politicians
D) determining the meaning of (often vague) terms and how policies will be put into practice

Question 12

In which of the following stages of the policymaking process do policymakers select, legislate, and pass policies?

A) agenda setting
B) policy formulation
C) policy adoption
D) policy implementation

Question 13

Logrolling refers to ______.

A) agreements among members of Congress to vote for bills that other members favor, so that others will support bills that a member wants
B) a procedural move in Congress that directs committees to create or revise legislation to meet a specific budgetary target
C) a policymaking relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and relevant bureaucrats
D) the rewarding of presidential supporters with appointments to bureaucratic positions

Question 14

In public policy, reconciliation refers to ______.

A) agreements among members of Congress to vote for bills that other members favor, so that others will support bills that a member wants
B) a procedural move in Congress that directs committees to create or revise legislation to meet a specific budgetary target
C) a policymaking relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and relevant bureaucrats
D) the rewarding of presidential supporters with appointments to bureaucratic positions

Question 15

The procedural move used in Congress to direct committees to create or revise legislation to meet specific budgetary targets is commonly called ______.

A) logrolling
B) reconciliation
C) the iron triangle
D) the spoils system

Question 16

Policy implementation involves ______.

A) bargaining and negotiation amongst policymakers to devise an acceptable solution to a policy problem
B) the process of selection, legislation, and passing of policy by decision makers and elected politicians
C) determining the meaning of (often vague) terms and how policies will be put into practice
D) assessment of whether the policy is working or not, and what can be done to improve it if needed

Question 17

Policy evaluation involves ______.

A) bargaining and negotiation amongst policymakers to devise an acceptable solution to a policy problem
B) the process of selection, legislation, and passing of policy by decision makers and elected politicians
C) determining the meaning of (often vague) terms and how policies will be put into practice
D) assessment of whether the policy is working or not, and what can be done to improve it if needed

Question 18

In which of the following stages of the policymaking process are policies assessed on their appropriateness, capability, efficiency, and whether or not they need amendment or improvement?

A) agenda setting
B) policy adoption
C) implementation
D) evaluation

Question 19

Incrementalism refers to the idea that ______.

A) an agency's budget is based on the prior year's figures and will only change by a small amount
B) policies generally exhibit long periods of stability with short periods of significant change
C) the federal bureaucracy can be shrunk by presidential order
D) agencies and unelected officials have an active role to play in policymaking decisions

Question 20

The idea that policies remain relatively stable, but can be marked by periods of great change, is known as ______.

A) incrementalism
B) punctuated equilibrium
C) reductions in force
D) bureaucratic politics

Question 21

A policy monopoly ______.

A) occurs when one government at any level enacts a policy or policy change, and those physically nearby become inclined to adopt the policy or change, or actually do so
B) is a dominant understanding of the nature and direction of a particular policy
C) describes a fluid coalition of actors involved in policy on an ad hoc basis
D) is a portion of legislation that restricts the ability of bureaucracies to spend money on certain actions

Question 22

A policy network ______.

A) occurs when one government at any level enacts a policy or policy change, and those physically nearby become inclined to adopt the policy or change, or actually do so
B) is a dominant understanding of the nature and direction of a particular policy
C) describes a fluid coalition of actors involved in policy on an ad hoc basis
D) is a portion of legislation that restricts the ability of bureaucracies to spend money on certain actions

Question 23

In public policy, the iron triangle refers to ______.

A) agreements among members of Congress to vote for bills that other members favor, so that others will support bills that a member wants
B) a procedural move in Congress that directs committees to create or revise legislation to meet a specific budgetary target
C) a policymaking relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and relevant bureaucrats
D) the rewarding of presidential supporters with appointments to bureaucratic positions

Question 24

Under Lowi's policy typology, highways and public schools would be considered______.

A) distributive policies
B) regulatory policies
C) constituent policies
D) redistributive policies

Question 25

Under Lowi's policy typology, the establishment of the DHS after 9/11/2001 is an example of ______.

A) distributive policy
B) regulatory policy
C) constituent policy
D) redistributive policy

Question 26

Under Lowi's policy typology, low income housing programs would be considered ______.

A) distributive policies
B) regulatory policies
C) constituent policies
D) redistributive policies

Question 27

Lowi's distributive policies ______.

A) extend goods and services to constituents, as well as meting out the costs of those goods and services amongst the constituents
B) limit the discretion of individuals and agencies, or otherwise coerce certain behaviors
C) create or reform executive power entities, or deal with laws, that can have a broad impact
D) transfer resources from one group to another, typically with the intent of minimizing social or economic inequality in some way

Question 28

Which of Lowi's four policy types is connected mainly to the development of new bureaucracies, the internal distribution of funds within government, or establishing rules for public servants?

A) constituent policy
B) distributive policy
C) regulatory policy
D) redistributive policy

Question 29

Lowi's regulatory policies ______.

A) extend goods and services to constituents, as well as meting out the costs of those goods and services amongst the constituents
B) limit the discretion of individuals and agencies, or otherwise coerce certain behaviors
C) create or reform executive power entities, or deal with laws, that can have a broad impact
D) transfer resources from one group to another, typically with the intent of minimizing social or economic inequality in some way

Question 30

Which of Lowi's four policy types prescribe do's and don'ts for different groups to prevent others from becoming victims of those groups?

A) constituent policy
B) distributive policy
C) regulatory policy
D) redistributive policy

Question 31

Lowi's redistributive policies ______.

A) extend goods and services to constituents, as well as meting out the costs of those goods and services amongst the constituents
B) limit the discretion of individuals and agencies, or otherwise coerce certain behaviors
C) create or reform executive power entities, or deal with laws, that can have a broad impact
D) transfer resources from one group to another, typically with the intent of minimizing social or economic inequality in some way

Question 32

The study of ______ focuses on the implementation of government policy.

A) public administration
B) political institutions
C) public policy
D) politics

Question 33

Patronage in the executive branch is also referred to ______.

A) logrolling
B) policy network
C) the iron triangle
D) the spoils system

Question 34

A policy rider ______.

A) occurs when one government at any level enacts a policy or policy change, and those physically nearby become inclined to adopt the policy or change, or actually do so
B) is a dominant understanding of the nature and direction of a particular policy
C) describes a fluid coalition of actors involved in policy on an ad hoc basis
D) is a portion of legislation that restricts the ability of bureaucracies to spend money on certain actions

Question 35

The tool used by Congress in the legislative process to limit specific capacities or behaviors of the bureaucracy is known as a policy ______.

A) diffusion
B) monopoly
C) network
D) rider

Question 36

Reductions in force refer to the idea that ______.

A) an agency's budget is based on the prior year's figures and will only change by a small amount
B) policies generally exhibit long periods of stability with short periods of significant change
C) the federal bureaucracy can be shrunk by presidential order
D) agencies and unelected officials have an active role to play in policymaking decisions

Question 37

The fact that agencies and unelected officials are involved in policymaking and administration in a variety of ways refers to ______.

A) incrementalism
B) punctuated equilibrium
C) reductions in force
D) bureaucratic politics

Question 38

Setting and carrying out policy are in the exclusive purview of Congress and the Presidency in the U.S.

Question 39

The five stages of the policymaking process are agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation.

Question 40

Policy initiatives often make it on the policy agenda regardless whether there is a problem.

Question 41

In the study of public policy and public administration, 'bottom-up' policymaking does not refer to grassroots movements' influence on the policymaking process.

Question 42

Legislation is not the only path to policy adoption.

Question 43

The study of policy implementation focuses on 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches to this stage of the policymaking process.

Question 44

Policy evaluation is oftentimes a neglected stage of policymaking.

Question 45

Iron triangles are synonymous with political networks.

Question 46

Regulatory policies are aimed at protecting individual citizens rather than businesses.

Question 47

Max Weber is credited with having written extensively on the topic of bureaucracies.

Question 48

Throughout the policymaking process, which actor(s) or entity(ies) have the most influence? Why, and how?

Question 49

Consider the policymaking process in the United States and the actors involved. If you could change one element of this process in practice, what would be, how, and why?

Question 50

What are the similarities and differences between iron triangles and policy networks? Which idea provides a clearer conceptualization and description of agenda setters and policy influencers in the real world, and why?

Question 51

In the process of policymaking and public administration, what is the nature of checks and balances between the bureaucracy, the presidency, and Congress?

Question 52

What is the purpose of the bureaucracy in U.S. public administration? Has the bureaucracy exceeded this purpose or does it fall short? How and why so?