Question 1

Gortner, Mahler, and Nicholson distinguish managerial discretion in the public sector from that in the private sector mainly on the basis of what?
A) unlimited funds
B) relationship to Congress
C) specific grants of authority
D) access to OMB

Accepted Answer

Gortner, Mahler, and Nicholson distinguish managerial discretion in the public sector from that in the private sector mainly on the basis of specific grants of authority, which are often more limited and specific in the public sector compared to the private sector.

Question 2

Briefly describe what Dwight Waldo meant when he suggested that the lines between public and private sectors were becoming blurry.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe what Dwight Waldo meant when...

Question 3

The term red tape refers to the ways administrators must use federal programs to more securely attach the different layers of government.

Accepted Answer

Red tape refers to excessive bureaucracy and the use of complicated regulations and procedures that often impede efficiency and progress rather than enhance it. It is not specifically related to federal programs or government layers.

Question 4

By 1980, Waldo argued that the distinctions between "public" and "private" had become even more ______ since government entities were becoming even more involved in ______ and the private sector was taking on more ______.
A) intertwined; public; political interest
B) blurred; political interest; debt
C) blurred; private interests; public services
D) bankrupt; lawsuits with businesses; responsibility

Accepted Answer

C) is correct because it highlights the increasing involvement of government in private interests and the private sector's growing role in providing public services, which blurs the lines between public and private sectors.

Question 5

Describe what Gortner, Mahler, and Nicholson meant by the following: "For the private organization, it is a matter of 'go until I say stop'; but to the public manager the message is 'don't go unless I tell you to.'"

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe what Gortner, Mahler, and Nicholson meant...

Question 6

Which concept ties all administrative action to specific authority?
A) politics-administration dichotomy
B) rule of law
C) law of unintended consequences
D) rule of antideficiency

Accepted Answer

The concept that ties all administrative action to specific authority is the rule of law, which states that all actions by government officials must be authorized by laws or regulations. This ensures that the government operates within its legal limits and prevents arbitrary exercise of power.

Question 7

Congress broadly forbids "unfair methods of competition ...and unfair or deceptive acts in commerce," leaving the administrative agency and the courts to refine those vague terms ______.and ______.
A) fair; critical
B) peaceful; adjudicated
C) unfair; deceptive
D) fair; encouraging

Accepted Answer

The question is asking for two terms that refine the broad language of "unfair methods of competition" and "unfair or deceptive acts in commerce." The terms "unfair" and "deceptive" are the best fit to accomplish this refinement. The other answer choices are not applicable to the question.

Question 8

Which type of entity emphasizes equity, efficiency, and managing by persuasion?
A) nonprofits
B) private organizations
C) public organizations
D) small corporations

Accepted Answer

Public organizations emphasize equity, efficiency, and managing by persuasion as they are accountable to the public and aim to serve the public interest.

Question 9

Efficiency and equity are ____________ competing concepts that should be ___________.
A) sometimes; ignored
B) rarely; given little attention
C) sometimes; balanced
D) never; ignored

Accepted Answer

Efficiency and equity can sometimes be in competition with each other, but it is important to strive for balance between the two. Ignoring either concept can lead to negative consequences. Therefore, option C, "sometimes; balanced," is the best choice.

Question 10

The rule of law differentiates ______ from ______ more than oversight and performance management.
A) public organizations; private organizations
B) bureaucracy; public administration
C) national government; international government
D) policy formation; policy execution

Accepted Answer

The rule of law is an essential concept in public administration, which is concerned with the application of the law to administrative actions. It is the principle that all people, including government officials, are bound by the law, and that no one is above the law. The rule of law is particularly critical in the public sector because public organizations are responsible for providing services and enforcing regulations that affect the lives of citizens. Private organizations do not have the same level of public responsibility, and so the rule of law is less of a differentiating factor between them.

Question 11

Policy formulation and policy execution are so similar that public administration scholars have often argued that the two concepts should be combined.

Accepted Answer

Policy formulation and policy execution are distinct stages in the policy process. While they are closely interrelated, each stage involves different actors, processes, and goals. Policy formulation involves identifying problems, setting goals, developing strategies, and crafting specific policy proposals. Policy execution involves implementing policies, monitoring and evaluating their outcomes, and making adjustments as needed. These stages require different skills, resources, and organizational structures, so they should not be combined into a single concept.

Question 12

What period of time did Nicholas Henry suggest that the politics-administration dichotomy was rejected and there was a loss of confidence in the principles of public administration?
A) 1900-1926
B) 1927-1937
C) 1938-1950
D) 1950-1970

Accepted Answer

Nicholas Henry suggested that the politics-administration dichotomy was rejected and there was a loss of confidence in the principles of public administration during the period from 1938 to 1950. This era saw a shift in thinking about the separation between politics and administration.

Question 13

Public administrators must answer not only to their superiors but also to legislators and the courts.

Accepted Answer

Public administrators must be accountable to their superiors, such as elected officials or agency heads, but they also have a responsibility to uphold laws and regulations set by legislators and follow legal rulings made by courts.

Question 14

What forbids government officials from spending money on any purpose not explicitly authorized by law?
A) Antideficiency Act
B) neutrality doctrine
C) Pendleton Civil Service Act
D) oversight doctrine

Accepted Answer

The Antideficiency Act forbids government officials from spending money on any purpose not explicitly authorized by law. It aims to prevent overruns of budget appropriations and ensures accountability in government spending.

Question 15

Briefly discuss the key difference between policy formation and policy execution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly discuss the key difference between policy...

Question 16

Woodrow Wilson's view on which of the following topics has created a lasting scholarly debate?
A) organizational theory
B) the difference between public and private management
C) policy execution and policy formation
D) the neutrality of public administration

Accepted Answer

Woodrow Wilson's view on the neutrality of public administration has created a lasting scholarly debate. Wilson argued that public administrators should be politically neutral and should focus solely on implementing policies determined by elected officials. However, this argument has been heavily criticized by scholars who believe that it is impossible to separate politics from administration and that administrators inevitably make political decisions. This debate continues to influence discussions about the role of public administration in modern society.

Question 17

In writing about a politics-administration dichotomy, Woodrow Wilson was mostly arguing that public administrators were basically the same as members of Congress.

Accepted Answer

Woodrow Wilson was actually arguing that public administration and politics should be separated, and that while politicians are elected to represent the people and make policy decisions, public administrators should be experts in implementing those policies efficiently and impartially, regardless of political affiliation. He believed that administrators should be guided by principles of scientific management, with a focus on improving efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. Therefore, Wilson was not arguing that public administrators were basically the same as members of Congress.

Question 18

Scholars created a common definition for public administration a century after the field's inception.

Accepted Answer

Public administration as a field has been characterized by diverse definitions and perspectives since its inception, and scholars have not reached a single, common definition even today.

Question 19

From the choices below, which activity is the most critical to public organizations as compared to private organizations?
A) implementing the law
B) cutting costs
C) hiring minorities
D) cutting red tape

Accepted Answer

Implementing the law is the most critical activity for public organizations as it is their primary responsibility to serve the public interest and ensure that laws are followed. Private organizations may also be subject to laws and regulations, but their primary focus is on maximizing profit and shareholder value. Cutting costs, hiring minorities, and cutting red tape are important activities for both public and private organizations, but they are not as critical as implementing the law for public organizations.

Question 20

Briefly describe why the term bureaucracy is actually a neutral term despite it sometimes being viewed negatively.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe why the term bureaucracy is...

Quiz 3: What Is Public Administration?

Gortner, Mahler, and Nicholson distinguish managerial discretion in the public sector from that in the private sector mainly on the basis of what?

Briefly describe what Dwight Waldo meant when he suggested that the lines between public and private sectors were becoming blurry.

The term red tape refers to the ways administrators must use federal programs to more securely attach the different layers of government.

By 1980, Waldo argued that the distinctions between "public" and "private" had become even more since government entities were becoming even more involved in and the private sector was taking on more __.

Describe what Gortner, Mahler, and Nicholson meant by the following: "For the private organization, it is a matter of 'go until I say stop'; but to the public manager the message is 'don't go unless I tell you to.'"

Which concept ties all administrative action to specific authority?

Congress broadly forbids "unfair methods of competition ...and unfair or deceptive acts in commerce," leaving the administrative agency and the courts to refine those vague terms .and .

Which type of entity emphasizes equity, efficiency, and managing by persuasion?

Efficiency and equity are __ competing concepts that should be _.

The rule of law differentiates from more than oversight and performance management.

Policy formulation and policy execution are so similar that public administration scholars have often argued that the two concepts should be combined.

What period of time did Nicholas Henry suggest that the politics-administration dichotomy was rejected and there was a loss of confidence in the principles of public administration?

Public administrators must answer not only to their superiors but also to legislators and the courts.

What forbids government officials from spending money on any purpose not explicitly authorized by law?

Briefly discuss the key difference between policy formation and policy execution.

Woodrow Wilson's view on which of the following topics has created a lasting scholarly debate?

In writing about a politics-administration dichotomy, Woodrow Wilson was mostly arguing that public administrators were basically the same as members of Congress.

Scholars created a common definition for public administration a century after the field's inception.

From the choices below, which activity is the most critical to public organizations as compared to private organizations?

Briefly describe why the term bureaucracy is actually a neutral term despite it sometimes being viewed negatively.