Question 1

What is the largest federal welfare agency?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the largest federal welfare agency?
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Question 2

Policies having to do with banks,credit,and currency are generally referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Monetary policies refer to actions taken by a country's central bank in order to influence economic activity through the control of money supply and credit. This includes policies related to banks, credit, and currency. Fiscal policies refer to policies related to government spending and taxation. Welfare policies refer to policies related to social protection, such as programs for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Pecuniary refers to policies related to money and finance, while treasury policies refer to management of government finances and assets.

Question 3

Which of the following tasks is NOT a task of the Treasury Department?

Accepted Answer

Regulating interest rates to influence the supply of money to banks is a task of the Federal Reserve, not the Treasury Department.

Question 4

Which term defines the frequent phenomenon of bureaucratic implementation that produces policy more to the liking of the bureaucracy than originally legislated,but not so much as to trigger a political reaction from elected officials?

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratic drift refers to the phenomenon where the bureaucracy implements policy in a manner that is more to their liking, but not so much as to trigger a political backlash. This can occur because bureaucrats have more expertise and knowledge about implementation than elected officials, and may seek to maximize their own power and resources.

Question 5

Which choice is an example of a government department agency that is both an agency for the maintenance of the Union and a fiscal agency?

Accepted Answer

The Treasury Department is responsible for both maintaining the Union by collecting taxes and managing government finances, making it both an agency for the maintenance of the Union and a fiscal agency.

Question 6

Policies having to do with taxing and spending are generally referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Taxing and spending policies are considered fiscal policies. Welfare policies refer specifically to programs that provide assistance to those in need, while monetary policies refer to actions taken by central banks to manage the supply of money and interest rates. Pecuniary refers to anything related to money, while Treasury refers specifically to the department or agency responsible for managing a government's finances.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a plausible motivation for explaining the budget-maximizing behavior of bureaucrats?

Accepted Answer

A desire for autonomy from changes in the partisan, political environment is not a plausible motivation for explaining the budget-maximizing behavior of bureaucrats.

Question 8

By implementing the laws and policies passed by elected officials,bureaucrats can be seen as:

Accepted Answer

Bureaucrats are agents of Congress and the presidency, as they are responsible for implementing the policies and laws passed by elected officials. While they may have some influence on policy, they ultimately act on behalf of those who have the authority to make policy decisions. They are not principals themselves, but rather serve under the direction of elected officials.

Question 9

Which agency is responsible for adjusting the supply of money to the needs of banks in different regions and for the commerce and industry in each region?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Reserve System is responsible for adjusting the supply of money to the needs of banks and commerce/industry in different regions through its monetary policy. The other agencies listed do not have this specific responsibility.

Question 10

Which choice is an example of a powerful before-the-fact political weapon for controlling the bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The appointment process, where the president nominates and appoints individuals to head executive branch agencies, is a powerful before-the-fact political weapon for controlling the bureaucracy. The president can choose individuals who align with their policy goals and who they believe will be effective in implementing their agenda. These appointees have significant control over the workings of their agencies, allowing the president to influence decision making and policy outcomes.

Question 11

In his classic treatment of bureaucrats,the economist William Niskanen proposed that,for purposes of modeling bureaucratic behavior,a bureau chief or department head should be thought of as a(n):

Accepted Answer

Niskanen proposed that bureau chiefs or department heads are most concerned with maximizing their budgets, as a larger budget typically translates to greater power and influence within the bureaucracy. This behavior is referred to as "budget-maximizing" and is a key concept in the study of bureaucratic behavior.

Question 12

The observation that "you must first enable the government to control the governed;and in the next place oblige it to control itself" was made by:

Accepted Answer

This observation was made by James Madison, reflecting his views on the necessity of a strong, yet self-regulating government, as articulated in the Federalist Papers, particularly Federalist No. 51.

Question 13

The Food Stamp program,which is only given to individuals who can demonstrate that they meet the needs-based criteria for the program,is an example of a program that is:

Accepted Answer

The Food Stamp program is means-tested, meaning that individuals have to demonstrate that they meet certain income and asset requirements to be eligible for the program.

Question 14

Programs that require applicants to demonstrate that their total annual cash earnings fall below an officially defined poverty line before they are eligible to receive public assistance are considered to be:

Accepted Answer

Means-tested programs require applicants to demonstrate that they have a financial need for the benefits, typically by showing that their income falls below a certain threshold, such as the poverty line.

Question 15

A situation in which an entity chooses to rely on another entity to perform a task or service for it but risks not having the task done according to its wishes is sometimes called a(n):

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is commonly known as the principal-agent problem. In this situation, the entity (the principal) delegates a task to another entity (the agent) but faces the risk that the agent may not perform the task as desired due to information asymmetry, conflicting goals or incentives, or moral hazard. This problem arises in various contexts, including corporate management, politics, and consumer services. The principal-agent problem is a well-studied topic in economics, game theory, and organizational behavior.

Question 16

Which federal agency has authority over the credit rates and lending activities of the nation's most important banks?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Reserve System (also known as the "Fed") has authority over the credit rates and lending activities of the nation's most important banks. The Fed's primary responsibility is to promote a safe and stable banking and financial system for the United States. They achieve this through a number of tools, including setting interest rates, regulating bank activities, and supervising and regulating the financial industry.

Question 17

The agency that administers the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)program is the:

Accepted Answer

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for administering the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. HHS also oversees a variety of other programs related to health and human services, making it the most likely agency to be responsible for TANF.

Question 18

Which choice is an example of a welfare agency?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which choice is an example of a...

Question 19

In 2013,President Obama nominated Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense to lead the Defense Department.There was substantial controversy in the Senate regarding some of Hagel's policy positions,and a number of senators attempted to block Hagel's confirmation,although he was eventually approved by a vote of 58-41.This attempt to block Hagel's confirmation is an example of which type of control to address the principal-agent problem?

Accepted Answer

The attempt to block Hagel's confirmation is an example of a before-the-fact control mechanism, as it was an attempt to prevent him from taking office and exerting his influence as the Secretary of Defense. This type of control mechanism is designed to prevent potential problems before they occur.

Question 20

Where is the administration of fiscal policy primarily performed?

Accepted Answer

The administration of fiscal policy is primarily performed in the Treasury Department, which is responsible for managing the government's finances and implementing fiscal policy decisions made by Congress and the President. The other options listed do not have a primary role in administering fiscal policy. The Federal Reserve System is responsible for monetary policy, the Office of Management and Budget is responsible for preparing the federal budget and overseeing agency performance, the Securities and Exchange Commission regulates financial markets, and the Bureau of Appropriations does not exist as a federal agency.

Quiz 7: The Executive Branch