Question 1

The Civil Service Act of 1883 attempted to pattern government hiring after practices found in ________.

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service Act of 1883, also known as the Pendleton Act, aimed to reform government hiring by creating a professional civil service based on merit and qualifications rather than political connections. The act drew on private sector practices, particularly those of business, to establish a system of competitive examinations and appointment based on performance rather than patronage.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about annual federal outlays is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has not remained at the same level since 1960, nor has it consistently increased or decreased. Instead, it has experienced significant fluctuations over time, depending on a variety of economic, political, and social factors. For example, federal spending spiked during the 1960s and early 1970s due to increased investment in the military, social welfare programs, and infrastructure. It decreased in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to efforts to reign in government spending and combat inflation. It then increased again in the 1990s and early 2000s due to expansion of social welfare programs and increased investment in national security following the 9/11 attacks. In recent years, spending has leveled off somewhat, but still fluctuates depending on political priorities and economic conditions.

Question 3

Since the 1950s, compared with the entire workforce, the number of federal employees has ________.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

Which of the following executive agencies was created by Congress in the aftermath of the financial crisis that began in 2008?

Accepted Answer

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created by Congress as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010, in response to the 2008 financial crisis.

Question 5

The ________ is the head of a cabinet department.

Accepted Answer

The term "secretary" is commonly used to refer to the head of a cabinet department in the United States government.

Question 6

________ declared that "the era of big government is over" in 1996.

Accepted Answer

The statement "the era of big government is over" was made by President Bill Clinton in his 1996 State of the Union address.

Question 7

Under the administration of ________, EPA officials claimed that they did not have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases.

Accepted Answer

EPA officials under the administration of George W. Bush claimed that they did not have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, leading to controversy and lawsuits.

Question 8

What is a government corporation?

Accepted Answer

A government corporation is an agency that performs and charges for services that are usually provided by the private sector. These corporations are established by Congress to provide specific services that are deemed to be in the public interest, but that may not be profitable for private businesses to provide. Examples include the U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Question 9

Public bureaucracies are powerful because

Accepted Answer

Public bureaucracies are powerful because they are delegated vast power by the people, legislatures, and chief executives to ensure a particular job is done. This power includes authority over budgets, regulations, and the implementation of laws. However, they are still subject to some degree of control and oversight by the president, Congress, and the courts. Option A and E are incorrect as public bureaucracies are subject to control and their employees are not appointed for life. Option B is incorrect as their actions can be challenged in court. Option C is partially true as they do have the power of the purse through their control of budgets, but the power of the sword is reserved for the executive branch.

Question 10

By the 1980s, the average length of time it took to develop and implement an administrative rule was ________.

Accepted Answer

By the 1980s, the average length of time it took to develop and implement an administrative rule was 35-40 months.

Question 11

What is an independent agency?

Accepted Answer

An independent agency is an executive branch organization that is established by Congress with broad powers to provide a public service that is either too expensive or too important to be left to private companies. It is not part of a cabinet and while it may have similarities to a government corporation, it is distinct in that it is established by Congress rather than through a presidential order or executive action.

Question 12

Before the Civil Service Act of 1883, how were government appointments handled?

Accepted Answer

Before the Civil Service Act of 1883, government appointments were made through the spoils system, where political supporters were given jobs and positions as a reward for their support during elections. Merit and seniority were not taken into consideration.

Question 13

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

Accepted Answer

Congress passes laws creating and funding most federal bureaus. This is because Congress has the power to create and regulate federal agencies under the Constitution's Article I powers. The specific powers granted to each agency are spelled out in the authorizing legislation, which is passed by Congress and signed into law by the president.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a major role of bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Passing laws is not a role of bureaucracy. The legislative branch of government is responsible for passing laws, while the executive branch, which includes bureaucracy, is responsible for implementing and enforcing them. The major roles of bureaucracy include implementing laws, enforcing laws, issuing rules and regulations, and promoting the public welfare.

Question 15

Which of the following is an independent agency?

Accepted Answer

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency, meaning that it is not part of any department or part of the executive branch of government. Instead, it is an agency that operates independently of the government to carry out specific functions or activities related to environmental protection.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a type of federal agency?

Accepted Answer

Federal agencies are established by the federal government and have authority over specific areas of regulation, such as public welfare, internal national security, economic security, and external national security. State and local oversight, on the other hand, refers to the authority of state and local governments to regulate within their own jurisdictions, and is not a type of federal agency.

Question 17

Civil servants were given legal protection against being fired without a show of cause in order to

Accepted Answer

The legal protection given to civil servants against being fired without a show of cause was intended to cleanse bureaucracy of political interference while upgrading performance. This protection aimed to insulate civil servants from political pressures and ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the bureaucracy.

Question 18

Bureaucracy literally means ________.

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracy comes from the French word "bureau" which means "desk" or "office". It refers to a system of administration that relies on a strict chain of command and a set of standardized procedures to carry out functions and tasks. Therefore, choice A, "rule by offices and desks", is the most accurate definition of bureaucracy.

Question 19

At its peak in ________, the federal bureaucracy had ________ employees, not including military personnel.

Accepted Answer

According to the passage, the federal bureaucracy had its peak of 3 million employees in 1968, not including military personnel. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 20

________ is when bureaucrats attempt to translate laws into specific rules and actions.

Accepted Answer

Implementation is the process of translating laws into specific actions and rules by bureaucrats. Adjudication refers to the process of resolving disputes through a formal legal process. Regulation is the process of creating rules and guidelines for a particular industry or sector. Deregulation is the opposite of regulation, where rules and regulations are removed in order to increase competition and decrease government intervention. Rule making is the process of creating new rules or amending existing ones.

Quiz 14: Bureaucracy in a Democracy