8.3 Bureaucrats and Accountability
What are three features which characterize American bureaucracy: (Choose three answers.)
- It includes a strict division of labor where in work is apportioned among specialized workers to increase productivity. - It includes a chain of command in which authority flows from top to bottom, the characteristic of a hierarchy. - It includes superb measurement of productivity for success where work and action is evaluated based on rules and clear, outlined expectations.
Congress delegates substantial authority to administrative agencies in several areas: (Choose three answers.)
- devising and enforcing regulations - transferring money to state and local governments for grants-in-aid - paying subsidies
The authority to make policy decisions given by the Congress to the bureaucracy comes in several forms: (Choose three answers.)
- expertise - rule-making - administrative discretion
Some of federal bureaucrats, such as _____, take special tests and meet special criteria. (Choose three answers.)
- postal employees - doctors in the Public Health Service - FBI agents
Which two of the following are government-funded programs under the bureaucracy? (Choose two answers.)
- roads and highways - welfare programs
The civil service examinees must meet selection criteria, such as _____. (Choose three answers.)
- training - education levels - prior experience
can write lots of legislative stuff that increases or decreases bureaucratic freedom
congress
Even though bureaucrats work at a variety of jobs, most are blue-collar and construction workers.
False
Fifty percent of civilian employees work in the Washington, D.C. area.
False
In 1993, Congress strengthened the Hatch Act by making many forms of participation in politics more restricted.
False
The President, the legislative branch and the judicial branch lack the ability to force the bureaucracy to be accountable.
False
The Supreme Court is responsible for lots of important government-funded programs, such as the National Endowment for the Arts.
False
The government and the people are so contented with the size and efficiency with the bureaucracy that there is no need to reform and reorganize it.
False
The number of federal employees per 100 people in the United States population has increased from over 14 per 100 in the early 1970s to a little over 10 per 100 by the late 1990s.
False
can interpret the actions of the bureaucracies in order to determine if the actions are constitutional or not
Supreme court
Which one of the following is NOT a reason why the people have a negative opinion of the bureaucratic system?
The bureaucracy consists of voters who caters to the administration.
A federal bureaucracy is a set of complex hierarchical departments, agencies, commissions, and their staffs that exist to help the President carry out his Constitutionally mandated responsibility to enforce the laws of the nation.
True
About 30% of the civilian federal government employees work for the army, the navy, the air force, or some other defense agency.
True
Accountability is the holding of bureaucrats or other public officials for how they implement laws and presidential directives.
True
Federal government employees represent a broader cross section of the American population than do members of Congress.
True
The Hatch Act forbids employees from engaging in many party activities, such as running for public office or raising funds for a party or candidate.
True
The bureaucracy is notorious for being out of touch with the people and difficult to navigate.
True
The bureaucracy links the three branches together with a main job to make policies.
True
can change the functions of bureaucratic departments and agencies
congress
can confirm or reject presidential appointments to bureaucratic organizations
congress
can investigate bureaucratic activities and can force bureaucrats to testify
congress
can give an executive order
president
can hire and fire agencies
president
can pose proposals to change the rules and send it to the Congress to make it into a law
president
can reorganize the bureaucracy
president
Which one of these groups of people is knowledgeable in handling the bureaucracies?
specialized experts
can hold threats of legal sanctions on bureaucratic administrations
supreme court
About 90% of all federal bureaucrats are hired under regulations of _____.
the civil service system