Deck 8: Bureaucracy

Question 1

Which of the following does NOT help to define bureaucracies?

A) hierarchical structure
B) specifically defined areas of responsibility
C) management principles focused on efficiency
D) intended for effectiveness and efficiency
E) found only in government

Answer 1

found only in government

Question 2

Federal standards limiting the amount of arsenic permitted in drinking water were established as a result of

A) congressional legislation as a result of more than a year of hearings.
B) presidential executive order based on advice from the nation's best scientists.
C) a political battle between the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Rural Water Association.
D) a court order setting the limit.
E) state efforts to establish a comprehensive system governing water quality.

Answer 2

a political battle between the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Rural Water Association.

Question 3

Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government lacked authority to handle matters of taxation, military, and commerce. This led to the

A) Revolutionary War.
B) Constitutional Convention.
C) formation of the Department of Congress.
D) Continental Congress.
E) dissolution of the first Congress.

Answer 3

Constitutional Convention.

Question 4

Which of the following did NOT contribute to the expansion of the federal bureaucracy?

A) Industrialization
B) Urbanization
C) Immigration
D) The Great Depression
E) Expanded military

Question 5

In order to better serve the soldiers who had served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, the

A) Department of Veterans Affairs was created.
B) Congress passed the Veterans Rights Protection Act.
C) president issued an executive order increasing veterans' benefits.
D) Department of Veterans Affairs was consolidated into an independent regulatory agency.
E) Department of Veterans Affairs was eliminated.

Question 6

In the 1960s, as part of President Johnson's great society efforts, which of the following was created?

A) Department of Homeland Security
B) Department of Energy
C) Department of Veterans Affairs
D) Federal Emergency Management Agency
E) Department of Housing and Urban Development

Question 7

Before it became part of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service was part of the

A) Justice Department.
B) Defense Department.
C) Labor Department.
D) Commerce Department.
E) Treasury Department.

Question 8

The Department of Justice is headed by the

A) president of the United States.
B) Secretary of Justice.
C) Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
D) Attorney General of the United States.
E) Chief Justice.

Question 9

The process of establishing a common set of rules and procedures to guarantee that, for example, a retiree in Idaho receives the same social security benefits as a similar retiree in Maine is known as

A) commonality.
B) similarity.
C) simultaneity.
D) standardization.
E) rationalization.

Question 10

In the context of the federal bureaucracy, the merit system refers to a system of

A) filling the bureaucracy based on criteria of political loyalty.
B) filling the bureaucracy based on criteria of professional qualifications.
C) filling the bureaucracy based on the results of direct popular election for department heads.
D) requiring congressional approval for presidential appointees.
E) establishing a system of congressional oversight through the possibility of impeachment.

Question 11

The law that limits the participation of federal employees in political campaigns is the

A) Wilson Act.
B) Pendleton Act.
C) Smoot-Hawley Act.
D) Taft Act.
E) Hatch Act.

Question 12

The Senior Executive Service program was established by Congress in order to

A) provide flexibility in shifting personnel within the federal bureaucracy.
B) provide better services to retirees.
C) make the Social Security Administration more responsive to public demands.
D) increase the profitability of the Social Security program.
E) oversee congressional programs monitoring the federal bureaucracy.

Question 13

The use of the iron triangles concept to understand the nature and function of the federal bureaucracy has largely been replaced by the concept of

A) regulatory processes.
B) structural governance.
C) issue networks.
D) oversight.
E) executive services.

Question 14

The congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office were established to

A) investigate issues and report findings to Congress.
B) allow Congress to challenge the dominance of the executive.
C) provide another layer of bureaucratic oversight over Congress.
D) make the government more responsive to the demands of the people.
E) eliminate bureaucratic red tape.

Question 15

The federal law intended to prevent officials in the bureaucracy from being punished for their efforts to protect the country from governmental misconduct
Is the

A) Employment Protection Act.
B) Whistleblower Protection Act.
C) Government Oversight Act.
D) Accountability Act.
E) Nondiscrimination Act.

Question 16

The power of bureaucratic agencies to investigate and hold hearings regarding alleged violations of federal regulations generally takes place through

A) administrative hearings.
B) quasi-judicial proceedings.
C) courts marshal.
D) the federal court system.
E) the state court systems.

Question 17

Congress does NOT utilize which of the following in its oversight of the federal bureaucracy?

A) Congress can hold public hearings.
B) Congress can call public officials to testify on the implementation of programs.
C) Congress can use hearings to pressure the president to ensure better implementation.
D) Congress can dismiss civil service employees through direct action.
E) Congress can expand or reduce a department's budget.

Question 18

The Natural Resources Defense Council is an independent regulatory commission based in the Department of the Interior.

Question 19

Independent regulatory commissions are federal agencies with narrow responsibilities for a specific policy issue, such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

Question 20

A dramatic increase in the number of veterans and a desire to meet their demands led to the elevation of the Veterans Administration to a department-level post at the end of the 1980s.

Question 21

When an agency achieves the status of an executive department, its head becomes a member of the president's cabinet.

Question 22

All executive branch administrative functions are carried out within the 15 executive departments.

Question 23

When selecting appointees for cabinet positions, the primary criteria employed by the president are professional experience and policy expertise.

Question 24

In the 1990s, some lawmakers called for decentralization as a solution to the problems of the federal bureaucracy.

Question 25

The private sector is always capable of delivering services more efficiently and at a lower cost than the government.

Question 26

Both issue networks and policy communities are terms that describe ongoing relationships and contacts between individuals interested in specific policy issues.

Question 27

Gale Norton, holding positions in the departments of the Interior and Agriculture, as well as working as a private attorney on related issues, illustrates the "revolving door" of government administration.

Question 28

Bureaucratic agencies can influence or shape public policy through all of the following EXCEPT

A) their authority to create new rules for administering programs.
B) their discretion in enforcement of laws enacted by Congress.
C) providing information and ideas for members of Congress.
D) their close connection to the president through the cabinet.
E) their ability to discern what rules are constitutional or not.

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a type of organization entity in the federal bureaucracy?

A) A non-governmental agency
B) A department
C) An independent agency
D) An independent regulatory commission
E) A government corporation

Question 30

Department and agencies within the executive branch are collectively referred to as the federal

A) government.
B) bureaucracy.
C) branch.
D) Congress.
E) state.

Question 31

In the context of the federal government, agencies

A) are the smallest unit of government.
B) have independent boards and are expected to run like private companies.
C) are large organizations responsible for a broad policy realm.
D) are small organizations with a narrow policy focus.
E) operate autonomously from the president.

Question 32

_____ are typically large organizations responsible for a broad policy realm.

A) Departments
B) Independent agencies
C) Independent regulatory commissions
D) Government corporations
E) Oversight committees

Question 33

_____ are organizational entities in the federal government that are not under the control of the president or a department.

A) Governmental institutes
B) Independent agencies
C) Independent regulatory commissions
D) Government corporations
E) Oversight committees

Question 34

_____ have independent boards and are expected to be run like private companies.

A) Departments
B) Independent agencies
C) Independent regulatory commissions
D) Government corporations
E) Oversight committees

Question 35

The Secretary of Education is the head of a(n)

A) department.
B) independent agency.
C) independent regulatory commission.
D) government corporation.
E) oversight committee.

Question 36

The Social Security Administration is an example of a(n)

A) department.
B) independent agency.
C) independent regulatory commission.
D) government corporation.
E) oversight committee.

Question 37

The Constitutional Convention was called in part because

A) Americans wanted a more efficient government.
B) the federal government was too weak.
C) the federal government had grown too large.
D) the federal government was too strong.
E) the states were demanding greater oversight powers.

Question 38

Why did the federal bureaucracy remain so small in the early days of the Republic?

A) The small size of the country meant that only a small government was necessary.
B) The founders' mistrust of government led them to limit the size of the federal bureaucracy.
C) The people refused to pay taxes to support a larger bureaucracy.
D) Most policy issues fell under the authority of the states, so there was no need for a large federal bureaucracy.
E) All of these contributed to the small size of the federal bureaucracy.

Question 39

Which of the following was NOT one of the original departments of the federal government in 1789?

A) Agriculture
B) State
C) Treasury
D) War
E) Justice

Question 40

The New Deal resulted in the creation of all of the following EXCEPT

A) the Civilian Conservation Corps.
B) the Work Progress Administration.
C) the Social Security Administration.
D) the Agricultural price support program.
E) the Environmental Protection Agency.

Question 41

The Department of Transportation was established in the

A) 1940s.
B) 1950s.
C) 1960s.
D) 1970s.
E) 1980s.

Question 42

What 1973 event led to the creation of the Department of Energy?

A) The Soviet Union landed a man on the moon
B) The rise of China as a rival to the United States
C) The growing consumer demand for solar power
D) The energy crisis
E) The discovery of nuclear energy

Question 43

Which federal department was established during the 1950s?

A) Department of Agriculture
B) Department of Housing and Urban Development
C) Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
D) Department of Energy
E) Department of Veterans Affairs

Question 44

Which Department was created as a response to the attacks of September 11, 2001?

A) Department of Homeland Security
B) Department of Veterans Affairs
C) Department of Defense
D) Department of Anti-Terrorism Activities
E) Department of Air Traffic Security

Question 45

Which of the following was NOT integrated into the Department of Homeland Security?

A) The Federal Emergency Management Agency
B) The Immigration and Naturalization Service
C) The National Weather Service
D) The U.S. Coast Guard
E) The Secret Service

Question 46

The President's cabinet currently consists of _____ departments.

A) 3
B) 6
C) 9
D) 12
E) 15

Question 47

The National Weather Service exists within what federal department?

A) Defense
B) Commerce
C) Energy
D) Interior
E) Agriculture

Question 48

The largest department in the Executive Branch with over 718,000 employees is the

A) Department of Agriculture.
B) Department of the Treasury.
C) Department of Defense.
D) Department of Homeland Security
E) Department of Education

Question 49

The Patent and Trademark Office Database is part of what federal department?

A) Treasury
B) Justice
C) Labor
D) Commerce
E) Interior

Question 50

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is part of the federal department of

A) the Interior.
B) Homeland Security.
C) Defense.
D) State.
E) Agriculture.

Question 51

The appointment of Michael Brown by George W. Bush to be director of FEMA was an example of

A) a president appointing someone outside of his own party.
B) an appointment based on a lifetime of experience in that department's field.
C) a department head being nominated for their skill of administrating, but not experience.
D) Congress rejecting a president's nominee.
E) an appointment based on political connections and loyalty rather than qualifications and experience.

Question 52

The smallest federal department is

A) Agriculture
B) Education
C) Interior
D) Justice
E) Defense

Question 53

The agency responsible for shaping monetary policy in the United States is the

A) Department of the Treasury.
B) Department of Commerce.
C) Securities and Exchange Commission.
D) Council of Economic Advisors.
E) Federal Reserve Board.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT an independent agency responsible for facility or program administration?

A) Peace Corps
B) Drug Enforcement Agency
C) Selective Service System
D) National Archives and Records Administration
E) Smithsonian Institution.

Question 55

The Federal Reserve Board is an independent agency responsible for

A) overseeing the various stock exchanges.
B) shaping monetary policy.
C) regulating international trade policy.
D) insuring private bank accounts.
E) overseeing the stock exchanges and international trade policy.

Question 56

The five member boards of the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission

A) are the smallest boards of any federal agencies.
B) have the largest operating budgets of any federal agencies.
C) are appointed independently by the president without congressional oversight.
D) must include a mix of different political parties.
E) must include at least two women.

Question 57

The phrase "to the victor belong the spoils" was a common reference to the _____ system of bureaucratic appointments.

A) merit
B) reflexive
C) establishment
D) patronage
E) credit

Question 58

The Pendleton Act

A) established the current merit system in the federal bureaucracy.
B) overturned the Reed Act.
C) established high tariffs to protect American manufacturers.
D) required congressional approval of presidential appointees.
E) eliminated the ability of the Senate to filibuster judicial nominees.

Question 59

The Hatch Act

A) established the patronage system of presidential appointments.
B) established the merit system of presidential appointments.
C) limited the ability of federal employees to participate in political campaigns.
D) overturned the Pendleton Act.
E) was overturned by the Pendleton Act.

Question 60

Which was NOT a problem associated with the patronage system common in the early part of the nineteenth century?

A) Abrupt turnover in office after every election
B) Distribution of jobs to unqualified people
C) Steering benefits and services to fellow partisans.
D) Widespread corruption
E) Too strict policies on who could be accepted into the civil service

Question 61

The first civil service system was established by President

A) Ulysses Grant.
B) Chester A. Arthur.
C) Grover Cleveland.
D) William McKinley.
E) Franklin Roosevelt.

Question 62

Which American president was assassinated by a disappointed office seeker in 1881?

A) Abraham Lincoln
B) James Garfield
C) William McKinley
D) Theodore Roosevelt
E) William Taft

Question 63

Decentralization refers to the

A) transfer of power to regional offices of the federal government.
B) ability of the Congress to act as a check on the president.
C) transfer of governmental authority to private organizations.
D) limits imposed on the federal bureaucracy by the Hatch and Pendleton Acts.
E) imposition of term limits on members of Congress.

Question 64

The use of private military contractors and civilian interrogators in Iraq is an example of

A) devolution.
B) decentralization.
C) defederalization.
D) privatization.
E) commercialization.

Question 65

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the federal government established the _____ to oversee passenger screening at airports.

A) Transportation Security Administration
B) Transportation Safety Agency
C) Air Marshall Program
D) Passenger Screening Agency
E) Airport Safety Administration

Question 66

Which of the following is NOT a critique of privatization of some governmental services?

A) Private contractors do not always deliver more services at a lower cost than the government.
B) Private companies may not be held accountable for their actions.
C) Private companies may play favoritism or be corrupt in their delivery of services.
D) Private contractors may not be driven by concerns for the public good.
E) All of these are criticisms of privatization of some governmental services.

Question 67

In order to provide strategic leadership in public policy and administration, the U.S. Congress established the

A) Office of Management and Budget.
B) Senior Executive Service program.
C) Council of Economic Advisors.
D) Government Accountability Office.
E) Department of the Interior.

Question 68

Most contemporary scholars view the concept of the iron triangle as a(n)

A) accurate model confirmed by in-depth analytic studies.
B) accurate description of military policy but less accurate in describing other policy areas.
C) accurate reflection of the problems facing government reformers.
D) limited and outdated model.
E) contextually limited by philosophically relevant model.

Question 69

Policy communities are also often referred to as

A) regulatory processes.
B) structural governance.
C) issue networks.
D) oversight.
E) executive services.

Question 70

_____ refer to the collections of interest groups, scholars, and other experts that communicate about, debate, and interact regarding issues of interest.

A) Governments
B) Bureaucracies
C) Iron triangles
D) Policy communities
E) Politics

Question 71

Gale Norton's history before she headed the Department of the Interior, and her position as legal advisor for Royal Dutch Shell, is an example of

A) the revolving door policy.
B) a policy community.
C) an issue network.
D) an iron triangle.
E) a whistleblower.

Question 72

Legal rules created by government agencies based on authority delegated by the legislature are more commonly referred to as

A) laws.
B) statutes.
C) regulations.
D) oversight.
E) precedent.

Question 73

The Bush administration used the rule-making process to its advantage to implement all of the following EXCEPT

A) lengthen the hours that long-haul truckers could drive in one shift.
B) approve logging in federal forests without environmental reviews.
C) dilute rules intended to protect coal miners from black lung disease.
D) improve better gas mileage standards for motor vehicles.
E) relax air pollution regulations for factories and power plants.

Question 74

Appeals within the quasi-judicial processes of bureaucracies are generally heard by a(n)

A) federal appeals court judge.
B) administrative law judge.
C) department head.
D) elected political official.
E) civilian review board.

Question 75

Cornell students, Kristen Echemendia and Heidi Craig, were able to help a Guatemalan man avoid deportation by

A) demonstrating that the Board of Immigration Appeals was corrupt.
B) showing he had not been given adequate opportunity to present evidence about his physical scars he received from torture in Guatemala.
C) proving that the delay in processing his application, due to red tape, hampered his right to a fair hearing.
D) implying that the process was overly complicated and that hearings are secretive.
E) pointing out that Guatemalans have no rights in the judicial process within the bureaucracy.

Question 76

Which of the following statements most accurately describes Americans' view of bureaucracy?

A) Bureaucracy is an effective way to make controversial decisions.
B) Bureaucracy is inefficient and staffed by uncaring employees.
C) Bureaucracy is a necessary evil in a complex society.
D) Bureaucracy is preferable to leaving situations to the private market to resolve.
E) Bureaucracy generally works well.

Question 77

Because of the nature of work that they do, bureaucrats are rarely lobbied by outside influence.

Question 78

Responsibility for responding to natural disasters in the United States generally falls to the Department of Defense.

Question 79

Responsibility for regulating the safety of the nation's water supply falls to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Question 80

In 2000, objection to the adoption of a new and tougher standard for arsenic in drinking water came from the mining and wood-preservative industries.