Question 1

Which of the following statements about administrative rule making is false?

Accepted Answer

The statement that both houses of Congress must formally approve all federal rules is false. In fact, Congress has delegated rule-making authority to executive agencies, which allows them to create and implement regulations without congressional approval.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the merit system is not true?

Accepted Answer

Not every member and official of a government agency has been appointed through the merit system. Political appointees and elected officials are exempt from the merit system and are typically appointed based on loyalty and connections to those in power.

Question 3

Who stated, in his 1996 State of the Union address, that "the era of big government is over"?

Accepted Answer

Bill Clinton stated this in his 1996 State of the Union address.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Giving civil servants legal protection against being fired without a show of cause helps to cleanse bureaucracy of political interference while upgrading performance. This protection ensures that civil servants can carry out their duties without fear of being fired for political reasons, which allows them to focus on providing efficient and effective services to the public. Additionally, it incentivizes civil servants to perform well since their job security is protected by law, which can lead to enhanced public trust in bureaucracy.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracies are not responsible for passing laws. That is the role of the legislative branch of government.

Question 6

Bureaucracy, literally translated, means

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracy comes from the French word "bureau," meaning desk or office. The term refers to a form of government characterized by a large number of officials or administrators who are responsible for carrying out specific tasks or functions within a hierarchical structure.

Question 7

The attempt of bureaucracies to translate laws into specific rules and actions is called

Accepted Answer

Implementation refers to the process of bureaucracies translating laws into specific rules and actions, and carrying out those rules and actions in practice. Adjudication refers to the process of settling disputes or applying rules to specific cases. Regulation refers to the official rules and orders issued by a government agency in order to carry out a law. Deregulation refers to the process of reducing or eliminating government regulations on private businesses. Rule making refers to the process of creating new rules and regulations.

Question 8

What is the origin of most federal bureaus?

Accepted Answer

Congress has the power to create and fund federal bureaus through legislation, making option A the most accurate answer. While the president can create bureaus through executive order, this is less common and generally only done when there is existing statutory authority for the bureau. Similarly, Cabinet secretaries may oversee the creation of new bureaus within their own departments, but this is still subject to Congressional approval and funding. The Constitution's Article II powers do give the president broad authority over executive functions, but creating new bureaus falls under the domain of Congress.

Question 9

The largest subunits of the federal executive branch are called

Accepted Answer

The largest subunits of the federal executive branch are called departments. These include the Department of State, Department of Treasury, Department of Defense, etc.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service Act of 1883 was modeled after business practices, such as hiring based on merit and competency rather than political affiliation or connections.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has experienced significant ups and downs over time. While there have been periods of increase (such as during the Vietnam War and the Great Recession), there have also been periods of decrease (such as during the 1990s). Therefore, choice D is the most accurate statement.

Question 12

Which of the following was forced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission to recall several car models after identifying problems with their gas pedal accelerators?

Accepted Answer

The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission forced Toyota to recall several car models in 2009 and 2010 due to problems with their gas pedal accelerators sticking and causing unintended acceleration. This was a major safety issue that affected millions of vehicles and led to significant damage to Toyota's reputation.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

According to the information provided, the federal bureaucracy had its peak in 1968 with 3 million employees, not including military personnel.

Question 14

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 thirty-five to forty months, according to research by the Administrative Conference of the United States. This was a significant increase from the previous decades, where the average time was much shorter.

Question 15

Which of the following is an independent agency?

Accepted Answer

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency that is not part of any executive department or cabinet-level agency. It was established in 1970 to protect human health and the environment by regulating pollution and enforcing environmental laws.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Before the Civil Service Act of 1883, appointments to government positions were made through the spoils system, where political supporters of the elected officials were given jobs regardless of their qualifications or merit. This system led to corruption and inefficiency in government. The Civil Service Act established a merit-based system for civil service appointments.

Question 17

The head of a department is called the

Accepted Answer

The answer of The head of a department is called...

Question 18

Public bureaucracies are powerful because

Accepted Answer

Public bureaucracies are powerful because they are delegated vast power by legislatures, chief executives, and the people to ensure that a particular job is done. This gives them a significant amount of authority and influence in carrying out their duties. They are not appointed for life (option E) and their actions can be challenged in court (option B). While they do have some control over funding (option C), this is not the main source of their power. Finally, they are subject to some oversight from the president and Congress (option A).

Question 19

What is an independent agency?

Accepted Answer

An independent agency is an agency that is not part of any Cabinet department. While many independent agencies were created by laws passed by Congress, this is not the defining characteristic of an independent agency. Additionally, independent agencies may receive funding from outside sources, but this is not necessary for an agency to be considered independent. Independent agencies are still part of the government, but they are not under direct control of the Executive Branch.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the number of federal employees has gradually declined since the 1950s, while the entire workforce has increased.

Quiz 14: Bureaucracy in a Democracy