Chapter 11 Quiz

Bureaucracy is the name given to a. a large organization, structured hierarchically, that carries out specific functions. b. any organization that has major problems when attempting to accomplish its goals. c. a group of people who work to enforce policies in a way that prevents quick results. d. any large branch of a government that has power to interpret laws.

A

In terms of management, the cabinet departments are considered a. line organizations. b. lacking personnel. c. the watchdogs for independent agencies. d. part of the judicial branch.

A

One of the important differences between public bureaucracies and private corporations is that government bureaucracies a. are not organized to make a profit, whereas private corporations are. b. have a single set of leaders, whereas private corporations do not. c. are much larger than private corporations. d. are not intended to serve the citizenry as private corporations are.

A

Since 1952, government employment has a. grown mostly at the state and local levels. b. grown at the state level but decreased at the local level. c. grown at the local level but decreased at the state level. d. decreased at every level.

A

What percent of federal employees have been fired for incompetence in recent years? a. Fewer than 0.1% b. 10% c. 12% d. 5%

A

A statute enacted by Congress that authorizes the creation of an administrative agency is a. an appropriations authorization. b. enabling legislation. c. an executive order. d. statutory authorization.

B

Because Congress felt it was unable to handle the complexities and technicalities required to carry out specific laws in the public interest, it created a. cabinet departments. b. independent executive agencies. c. independent regulatory agencies. d. government corporations.

C

The original government bureaucracy included the Attorney General's Office and the departments of a. Security, Treasury, and the Interior. b. State, War, and Energy. c. State, War, and Treasury. d. Treasury and Transportation.

C

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major types of structures within the executive branch? a. Independent regulatory agencies b. Cabinet departments c. Privatized bureaucracies d. Government corporations

C

After each presidential election, all of the jobs that usually go to the politically well-connected are listed in what is informally known as the a. Most Wanted List. b. Beige Book. c. Congressional Quarterly. d. Plum Book.

D

The Government in the Sunshine Act required that a. all federal agencies headed by committees hold their meetings regularly in public session. b. all federal agencies terminate after five years unless Congress grants the agency an extension. c. all federal agencies hold at least half of their public meeting outside of Washington, D.C. d. at least forty percent of upper level positions within an agency be filled by females or ethnic minorities. e. all federal agency meetings on personnel problems or court proceedings be held in public session.

A

Agency capture is when a. an agency takes over an industry. b. the industry that is being regulated gains control over the agency that is supposed to regulate it. c. the agency completely ignores an industry that it is supposed to regulate. d. the agency abolishes a private corporation and merges it with itself.

B

Excluding military members, the number of federal government employees has a. increased significantly in the last several decades. b. remained relatively stable for the last several decades. c. decreased substantially in the last few decades.. d. grown to exceed the number of local government employees.

B

Polls consistently report that the majority of Americans support a. "big government." b. "less government." c. removing protections for endangered species. d. defunding Medicare.

B

The average term of service for political appointees is a. less than one year. b. less than two years. c. more than two years but less than a president's full term in office. d. four years.

B

Through negotiated rulemaking, federal agencies have begun encouraging businesses and public-interest groups to become directly involved in a. taking responsibility for their own self-regulation. b. drafting the regulations that affect them. c. lobbying Congress to relax regulations. d. lobbying the president concerning bureaucratic reorganization.

B

Which of the following is true regarding the establishment of cabinet departments? a. The first cabinet department to be created was Treasury and the most recently created was Education. b. The first cabinet department to be created was State and the most recently created was Homeland Security. c. The first cabinet department to be created was War and the most recently created was Energy. d. The first cabinet department to be created was Treasury and the most recently created was Health and Human Services.

B

Which of the following requirements exist under the Freedom of Information Act? a. Government agencies have to tell the media if budgets are exceeded. b. Federal agencies must disclose to individuals information contained in government files. c. The Act made obsolete the Government in the Sunshine Act. d. Executive agencies must release all information to congressional committees.

B

Independent executive agencies are a. private organizations. b. responsible for regulating major aspects of the economy. c. federal agencies that are not part of a cabinet department, but report directly to the president. d. responsible directly to Congress.

C

In 1978, the ______ was created to oversee promotions, employees' rights, and other employment matters. a. Civil Service Commission b. Office of Personnel Management c. Ministry of Personnel d. Merit Systems Protection Board

D

In terms of numbers, each cabinet department is served by a. a handful of individuals, selected directly by the president. b. dozens of individuals. c. hundreds of individuals, a few of whom are under Presidential control. d. thousands of individuals, a few of whom are under Presidential control.

D

Laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically extended are called a. trial legislation. b. interim legislation. c. sunshine legislation. d. sunset legislation.

D

One type of government corporation is the ______, a business created by the federal government itself, which then sells part or all of the corporation's stock to private investors. a. collaborative company b. temporary agency c. federal takeover d. government-sponsored enterprise

D

Regulatory agencies and commissions perform a. only executive functions. b. only legislative functions. c. only judicial functions. d. some functions of all branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial.

D

The Pendleton Act established a. federal civil service protections to the states. b. the judicial appointment system. c. the maximum number of government employees selected by the spoils system. d. the principle of employment on the basis of open, competitive examinations.

D

The units of organization inside a bureaucracy are divided a. by Congressional committee jurisdiction. b. by Congressional mandate. c. according to the desires of the President. d. according to the specialization and expertise of the employees.

D

Typically, an independent regulatory agency is responsible for a. monitoring the actions of the cabinet department heads. b. national defense-related legislation. c. monitoring the lower courts. d. a specific type of public policy.

D

Which of the following BEST defines the spoils system? a. Using civil service exams to hire qualified individuals b. The brainchild of President Abraham Lincoln c. Making the impounding of federal spending illegal d. The awarding of government jobs to political supporters and friends

D

Which of the following statements is true regarding government corporations? a. Profits from government corporations are distributed as dividends. b. Government corporations must pay taxes on profits. c. Government corporations do not employee many people. d. Government corporations do not have any stockholders.

D

Which part of the federal government employs most of the government's staff? a. The judiciary b. The legislative branch c. The federal courts d. The executive branch

D