Question 1

By 2012, how many employees did the state of Texas have?
A) 85,000
B) 123,000
C) 214,000
D) 311,000

Accepted Answer

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, in December 2012, the state of Texas had approximately 311,000 employees. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 2

State agencies are sometimes created as a result of
A) bureaucratic efficiency.
B) citizen complaints and outrage over an issue.
C) a need to keep up with population growth.
D) high state unemployment rates.

Accepted Answer

State agencies are often created in response to public demand for action on a specific issue or problem. Citizen complaints and outrage over issues like pollution, healthcare, or education can lead to the creation of new agencies to address those concerns. Bureaucratic efficiency, population growth, and unemployment rates may also be factors in some cases, but they are less likely to be the primary reasons for creating a state agency.

Question 3

State agencies within Texas were created by the
A) Texas Constitution.
B) Texas legislature.
C) Texas Constitution and Texas legislature.
D) authority of the Texas governor.

Accepted Answer

State agencies within Texas were created by both the Texas Constitution and the Texas legislature. The Texas Constitution provides for certain agencies, such as the Railroad Commission and the State Board of Education, while the Texas legislature has the power to create additional agencies as needed. The governor does not have the authority to create state agencies on their own.

Question 4

Bureaucracies in Texas
A) simply implement the policies determined by the legislature and governor.
B) make almost all public policy decisions.
C) influence policy outcomes by the decisions they make.
D) have little influence over policy because of the power centralized in the governor.

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracies in Texas have significant influence over policy outcomes because they are responsible for implementing and enforcing policies determined by the legislature and governor. They also have some discretion in how policies are executed, which gives them the ability to shape policy outcomes to some degree. However, they do not make all public policy decisions and their influence can be constrained by the power centralized in the governor.

Question 5

The largest single employer in Texas is
A) the federal government.
B) the state of Texas.
C) Texas Instruments.
D) Dell Computers.

Accepted Answer

As of 2021, the largest single employer in Texas is the state of Texas itself, with over 325,000 employees across various state agencies and departments. The federal government also employs a significant number of Texans, but not as many as the state government. Texas Instruments and Dell Computers are both major employers in the technology industry, but they are not the largest single employer in the state.

Question 6

A system that hires employees based on their expertise and competency is called a
A) merit system.
B) patronage system.
C) free market system.
D) crony system.

Accepted Answer

A merit system is one in which hiring and promotions are based on an individual's qualifications, skills, and abilities rather than on political connections or favoritism. This type of system is designed to ensure that the most qualified candidates are selected and that there is fairness and transparency in the hiring process. The other options (B, C, and D) all involve some form of nepotism, cronyism, or corruption, which can lead to poor performance and ethical problems within an organization.

Question 7

How many state agencies in Texas are substantially independent from the governor?
A) 50
B) 110
C) Around 200
D) More than 300

Accepted Answer

Texas has a large number of state agencies, and while the exact number can vary, it is generally around 200 that operate with substantial independence from the governor.

Question 8

Three factors that are important in determining a state agency's success in achieving its policy goalsare
A) elite access, vigor and vision of their leadership, and resources.
B) vigor and vision of their leadership, elite access, and the governor's support.
C) money, political power, and who you know.
D) elitist power, mission of the agency, and the Speaker's support.

Accepted Answer

Elite access, vigor and vision of their leadership, and resources are all important factors in determining a state agency's success in achieving its policy goals. Elite access allows for the agency to have influence with key policymakers and stakeholders, while the vigor and vision of leadership can drive innovation and effective implementation of policies. Finally, adequate resources are necessary to carry out the agency's mission and objectives. While the other answer choices may also play a role in an agency's success, they are not as strong or comprehensive as the factors listed in option A.

Question 9

Which policy regarding state employees is set by the legislature?
A) Salary and compensation
B) Promotion requirements
C) Educational requirements
D) Demographic composition of the state service

Accepted Answer

The legislature has the power to set the budget for state agencies, including the amount of funding available for employee salaries and compensation. Therefore, the policy regarding state employee salaries and compensation is set by the legislature.

B, C, and D are not explicitly set by the legislature. Promotion requirements and educational requirements may be set by individual state agencies, while the demographic composition of the state service may be influenced by various factors including state and federal laws, recruitment efforts, and hiring practices.

Question 10

The mission of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is to
A) monitor the appropriated spending of each state agency.
B) recommend the merging, abolition, or continuation of state agencies.
C) enforce the Administrative Procedures and Texas Register Act.
D) enforce the Open Meetings and Records Act.

Accepted Answer

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is responsible for conducting regular reviews of state agencies and recommending whether they should be merged, abolished, or continued. Its mission is to improve efficiency and effectiveness in state government by ensuring that agencies are meeting their objectives and that their operations are transparent and accountable. The commission does not monitor appropriated spending, enforce procedural or transparency laws, or perform any other functions related to agency oversight beyond its sunset review process.

Question 11

The ability of business leaders to meet directly with high ranking bureaucrats to resolve issues is called
A) nepotism.
B) patronage.
C) cronyism.
D) elite access.

Accepted Answer

Elite access refers to the ability of business leaders to meet directly with high ranking bureaucrats to resolve issues. Nepotism, patronage, and cronyism are all related to favoritism and unfair advantages given to individuals based on personal relationships rather than merit.

Question 12

Over the years criticism has been leveled at the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas attorney general for
A) defunding health care for the poor.
B) accepting the Obama health care reforms.
C) a lack of drive in pursuing nursing home violations.
D) cutting back on free child care and food stamp programs.

Accepted Answer

The article specifically mentions the criticism of the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas attorney general for their lack of action in nursing home violations. There is no mention of defunding health care for the poor or cutting back on child care and food stamp programs. Accepting or rejecting the Obama health care reforms is not mentioned as a specific criticism.

Question 13

State agencies are occasionally reorganized, merged, or abolished under a process called
A) sunset review.
B) affirmative action.
C) deregulation.
D) performance review.

Accepted Answer

Sunset review is a process in which state agencies are periodically reviewed and evaluated to determine their effectiveness and relevance. Based on the findings, the agencies may be reorganized, merged, or abolished to improve efficiency or eliminate duplication of functions. This process is different from deregulation or affirmative action, which are policies that aim to reduce government regulation or promote equal opportunities, respectively. Performance review is also a common practice in evaluating government agencies, but it focuses more on assessing individual employee performance rather than the overall effectiveness of the agency.

Question 14

"Red tape" contributes to the image of most bureaucracies as
A) in need of reform.
B) dictatorial.
C) inefficient.
D) out of touch.

Accepted Answer

"Red tape" refers to excessive bureaucracy and administrative procedures, which can lead to inefficiency and delays in decision-making. Therefore, choice C is the best answer as it accurately reflects the negative perception of most bureaucracies due to this issue. While choices A, B, and D may also be true in certain cases, they are not directly related to the concept of "red tape."

Question 15

Which employs the most people in Texas?
A) All local governments taken together
B) The state government
C) The federal government
D) County governments

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2020, local governments in Texas employed 1,633,300 people, which is significantly higher than the number of employees for any other government entity in the state. The state government employs 353,700 workers, while the federal government employs 249,800. County governments employ 137,300 people, which is also lower than the number of employees of local governments.

Question 16

The approximate number of independent school districts in Texas is
A)254.
B)181.
C) 1,237.
D) 4,600.

Accepted Answer

There are approximately 1,237 independent school districts in Texas, reflecting the state's large size and commitment to local control over public education.

Question 17

Fragmentation of the Texas executive branch into independent agencies was done by various legislatures to
A) avoid the issue of power becoming too centralized.
B) help Governor E. J. Davis deal with the former slave owners.
C) promote political patronage and kick-backs.
D) aid the power block of the petroleum producers in the legislature.

Accepted Answer

Fragmentation of the Texas executive branch into independent agencies was done to avoid the issue of power becoming too centralized. This was seen as a way to distribute power and prevent abuse of power by any one individual or office.

Question 18

The system that replaced the merit system in Texas was a
A) centralized testing system.
B) centralized compensation and classification system.
C) decentralized compensation plan.
D) fragmented classification system under a plural executive.

Accepted Answer

The replacement for the merit system in Texas was a centralized compensation and classification system. This centralized approach replaced the previous decentralized system, which led to inconsistencies in compensation and classification among state employees. This new system sought to create a more uniform and fair approach to compensation and classification.

Question 19

Acquiring a government job based on political loyalty, without regard to ability, is called
A) elite access.
B) political patronage.
C) a merit system.
D) affirmative action.

Accepted Answer

Political patronage refers to the practice of giving government jobs to supporters or allies, regardless of their qualifications or abilities. This is a form of nepotism and can lead to inefficiency and corruption in government institutions.

Question 20

Controversy has surrounded the State Board of Education due to its
A) lack of educational expertise.
B) refusal to support teacher unions.
C) lack of courtesy toward fellow members.
D) extremist ideological positions.

Accepted Answer

The question implies that there is controversy around the State Board of Education, and one answer option stands out as a point of potential controversy – "extremist ideological positions." It is possible that some members of the Board hold extreme views on issues related to education, such as curriculum content, teaching strategies, or student assessment. Such views could result in disagreements and conflicts with other members, as well as with stakeholders in the education community. Therefore, D is the best choice. The other options – lack of educational expertise, refusal to support teacher unions, lack of courtesy – may also be issues of concern, but the question does not provide enough information to determine their significance in the controversy surrounding the Board.

Quiz 10: Public Policy and Administration

By 2012, how many employees did the state of Texas have?

State agencies are sometimes created as a result of

State agencies within Texas were created by the

Bureaucracies in Texas

The largest single employer in Texas is

A system that hires employees based on their expertise and competency is called a

How many state agencies in Texas are substantially independent from the governor?

Three factors that are important in determining a state agency's success in achieving its policy goalsare

Which policy regarding state employees is set by the legislature?

The mission of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is to

The ability of business leaders to meet directly with high ranking bureaucrats to resolve issues is called

Over the years criticism has been leveled at the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas attorney general for

State agencies are occasionally reorganized, merged, or abolished under a process called

"Red tape" contributes to the image of most bureaucracies as

Which employs the most people in Texas?

The approximate number of independent school districts in Texas is

Fragmentation of the Texas executive branch into independent agencies was done by various legislatures to

The system that replaced the merit system in Texas was a

Acquiring a government job based on political loyalty, without regard to ability, is called

Controversy has surrounded the State Board of Education due to its