Question 1

A large, complex organization in which employees have specific job responsibilities and work within a hierarchy of authority is called which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The term bureaucracy refers to a large and complex organization with a hierarchical structure in which employees have specific job responsibilities within the organization's established rules and procedures. This type of organization is typically found in government agencies but can apply to large corporations as well. A cabinet is a group of high-ranking government officials who advise the head of government or state, a business is a commercial enterprise that produces goods or services, and a commission is a group of people appointed to perform a specific task or function. While all of these entities may have hierarchical structures and defined roles, the term bureaucracy specifically refers to a large, complex organization with a well-established hierarchy of authority.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes how the major cabinet departments of the federal government were created?

Accepted Answer

The major cabinet departments of the federal government were created through congressional legislation. Congress has the power to create executive agencies and departments, as outlined in the Constitution's necessary and proper clause. The first four cabinet departments (State, Treasury, War, and Attorney General) were created by Congress in 1789. Subsequent departments were created through various acts of Congress throughout history.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Option A describes bureaucracy as a hierarchical organization that has specific functions. The other options either do not fully describe bureaucracy or contain incorrect information.

Question 4

What can be said regarding the structure of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A bureaucracy is typically structured hierarchically, with clear lines of authority and reporting. This allows for efficient decision-making and implementation of policies and procedures.

Question 5

Which German sociologist described bureaucracies as highly rational organizations with detailed technical rules based on logical reasoning that enabled large numbers of people to get difficult jobs done efficiently?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber is known for his study on bureaucracy, in which he described it as a highly rational organization with detailed technical rules based on logical reasoning that enabled large numbers of people to get difficult jobs done efficiently.

Question 6

What inconsistency is revealed in polls taken of Americans?

Accepted Answer

Polls taken of Americans reveal an inconsistency in that a majority of Americans often express a desire for less government intervention in their lives, but at the same time support specific government programs such as Social Security and Medicare. This inconsistency suggests that Americans have a complex and nuanced view of the role of government in society, and that their attitudes are not easily summarized by simplistic binary categorizations of "big government" vs "small government."

Question 7

Most members of the cabinet, who head departments and act as chief advisers to the president on the issues under their jurisdiction, have which of the following titles or positions?

Accepted Answer

Cabinet members are commonly referred to as "secretaries" because they head executive departments such as the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, etc.

Question 8

Fundamental to the core of the federal bureaucracy is the presumption that the people who hold bureaucratic positions have which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The federal bureaucracy is made up of professionals with expertise in their respective fields, and their knowledge and skills are essential to the effective functioning of the government. While authority and loyalty are important, they are secondary to the need for expertise in carrying out the duties of bureaucratic positions. Connections and resources may be helpful, but they are not prerequisites for holding bureaucratic positions.

Question 9

A bureaucrat who believes that his or her organization has no competitors and there is therefore no reason to make bureaucracy more efficient subscribes to which model of bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The monopolistic model of bureaucracy holds that the organization has no competitors and therefore, there is no pressure to make the bureaucracy more efficient. This belief can lead to complacency and resistance to change, ultimately hindering the organization's effectiveness.

Question 10

When we indicate that an employee's implementation decisions in a bureaucracy are reviewed at ascending levels within the organization, this is describing which of the following core components of bureaucracies?

Accepted Answer

The hierarchy of authority refers to the system of levels within a bureaucracy where decisions made by lower level employees are reviewed and potentially overruled by those at higher levels.

Question 11

What do the secretaries who head the departments in the executive branch also make up?

Accepted Answer

The secretaries who head the departments in the executive branch make up the president's cabinet.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A bureaucracy is a specific type of organization that is structured hierarchically and carries out specific functions. It is often associated with government organizations, but can also apply to large corporations or universities. B, C, and D do not accurately describe a bureaucracy. E is partially correct but excludes other types of organizations that can also be bureaucracies.

Question 13

If it were necessary to create a new cabinet-level department today, which of the following has the authority to do that?

Accepted Answer

The creation of a new cabinet-level department requires legislation, which means it must be passed by Congress. The president can propose and advocate for the creation of such a department, but only Congress has the authority to enact the necessary legislation.

Question 14

A bureaucrat who constantly tries to expand his or her budget as a way to demonstrate power is best explained by which model of bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The Acquisitive model of bureaucracy suggests that bureaucrats will constantly try to expand their budgets and resources as a way to demonstrate their power and influence within the system.

Question 15

What is the relationship between the cabinet departments and the branches of the federal government?

Accepted Answer

The cabinet departments are created by Congress through the legislative process and report directly to the president, who appoints their leaders. The branches of the federal government are the executive, legislative, and judicial, and the cabinet departments are a part of the executive branch. Therefore, the relationship between the cabinet departments and the branches of the federal government is that they are part of the executive branch but created by Congress, and report directly to the president who leads the executive branch.

Question 16

You are studying an organization and trying to determine whether it is a public bureaucracy or a private one. Which of the following features would tell you that it is a public, or government, bureaucracy rather than a private one?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the organization is not organized to make a profit suggests that it is a public bureaucracy, as private organizations are typically oriented around profit-making.

Question 17

What is the key set of a president's advisers who are responsible for the areas under their jurisdiction known as?

Accepted Answer

The cabinet is a key set of a president's advisers who are responsible for the areas under their jurisdiction. They include the heads of executive departments and other high-level officials appointed by the president.

Question 18

There are 15 major service organizations of the federal government which include Treasury, Agriculture, Education, and more. What kind of departments are these?

Accepted Answer

These departments are known as Cabinet departments, which are major service organizations of the federal government and include departments like Treasury, Agriculture, and Education. They are led by Cabinet secretaries who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Question 19

An employee of a government unit, who is quite knowledgeable within their narrow area, and works on specific responsibilities and within a hierarchy of authority is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The description matches that of a bureaucrat, who works in a government unit, has a specific area of expertise, and operates within a hierarchy of authority.

Question 20

In 1870, the Office of the Attorney General, first set up in 1793, was transformed into which of the following to handle the legal business of the nation?

Accepted Answer

The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to handle the legal business of the nation, replacing the Office of the Attorney General.

Quiz 13: The Executive Branch